National Guard Solar Power Projects
Abstract
President Barack Obama said during his inauguration speech on 20 January 2009, "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. Mr. Obama and the new administration believe that renewable energy is part of our nation s successful future, possibly because the federal government has already experienced positive results in this area. Under the federal government's Energy Policy Act of 2005, all federal government agencies are required to use some renewable energy. One agency that is continuing to do this successfully is the United States Army National Guard, with the assistance of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Recently the New Jersey Army National Guard sought the expertise of the USACE New York District for construction of two solar power projects. These projects will not only help the Guard meet the country's energy laws but also save money on electricity and earn a profit from the state of New Jersey, which requires its citizens to support the use of renewable energy. Each year, solar system owners who generate more than 1,000 kilowatts of electricity that is connected to the public power grid receive certificates under the New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Program. These certificates are then publicly sold and traded to New Jersey businesses and individuals, enabling them to receive solar power benefits without building a solar power system themselves. The revenue is returned to the solar system owners.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA560233
Entities
People
- Joanne Castagna
Organizations
- United States Army Engineer School