Aqua Pennsylvania Taps Team for Solar Treatment, Transport
Conergy and Sanyo are collaborating on a 1.1-MW solar energy solution that will transform a 4.5-acre sedimentation basin into a clean energy generation plant to create green jobs, alleviate congestion on the grid and produce clean, renewable energy that will save Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. $77,000 a year on its energy bill.
The project – known as Ingram’s Mill Farm – is slated to produce 1,300,500 kWh of peak-time energy a year for the treatment and transportation of water for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.
The solar farm will also alleviate congestion on the PJM grid, resulting in savings to consumers by reducing line losses and congestion charges. PJM is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across 13 states and the District of Columbia. When completed, Ingram’s Mill Farm will be one of the largest solar farms on the East Coast. Construction is slated for completion as early as the end of this year.
“With improved state and local permitting processes and Conergy’s project expertise, this solution will allow us to reap the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy in very short order,” said Aqua America Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas DeBenedictis. “It’s a way for us to reinforce our commitment as environmental stewards, cut operating costs, create a hedge against rising energy costs and better serve our communities and investors,” DeBenedictis said.
Ingram’s Mill Farm earned a much-coveted Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority grant in the amount of $1 million, which is funded in part with federal stimulus dollars.
Charles Hanasaki, president of SANYO’s Energy USA Solar Division, says Conergy selected Sanyo's HIT Power® solar modules for their high energy conversion efficiency ratings and because the company’s silicon ingots and wafers will be produced in the United States.
DeBenedictis, Conergy Projects, Inc. President Kurt Zwerko, Aqua Pennsylvania President Karl Kyriss, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Rob Powelson, U.S. Congressman Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Senator Andrew Dinniman and Pennsylvania State Representatives Barbara McIlvaine-Smith and Duane Milne were among the officials participating in the groundbreaking of this shovel-ready project earlier this month. Ingram’s Mill Farm is anticipated to create 20 permanent full-time jobs and 120 temporary, full-time jobs.
Aqua Pennsylvania is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aqua America, Inc. Aqua Pennsylvania provides water and wastewater services to more than 1.4 million people in 30 counties across the Keystone State.