American solar company staying busy

SunPower, one of the United States’ top solar panel producers, has won numerous government contracts to build, develop, and manage solar projects on government property.

SunPower expects to create more than 1,000 local jobs with the multiple government projects it’s now contracted to complete. All together, the projects will produce no less than 20 megawatts (MW) of power a year once they’re completed, according to a company press release distributed earlier this week.

SunPower has worked with the U.S. government on solar projects since 1999, but has significantly ramped up its efforts in the last two years.

The company was taped to design and construct a 2 MW solar power system at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado. The project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

SunPower is also building a 1.8 MW solar system for the General Services Administration at the General Emmett Bean Federal Building in Indianapolis, Ind. That project will use SunPower’s patented T5 Solar Roof Tiles, the same that grace the roof at the The Second Harvest Food Bank of of Santa Clara, which were donated to the food bank at no charge. It will be the largest solar system installed on a GSA roof.

Even more significant, SunPower is one of five companies awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the Naval Facilities Command. SunPower will design, build, operate, and maintain solar systems in the Southwest U.S. for the Navy and the Marine Corps. The Navy has up to five years to commission up to 40 MW of power generation from the five companies, with a grand total cost up to $200 million. Those projects individually can range from a 1 MW to a 15 MW capacity, according to the company’s press release.

All of this follows closely on the heels of a contract with the Luke Air Force base in Arizona to build the largest solar array on government property, to date. The solar power system there is expected to generate 15 MW of power when it’s completed.

"SunPower has worked with federal agencies since 1999, resulting in the installation of more than 20 MW of solar power systems at government facilities," Karen Butterfield, SunPower's director of federal accounts, was quoted in the company’s press release. "As a result, SunPower has the experience and credibility to successfully navigate the federal procurement process and deliver reliable, high performance solar systems that meet agency requirements.”