Environmental Assessment of the Construction and Operation of a Solar Photovoltaic Array (SPVA) Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado
Abstract
Proposed Action: The Proposed Action is to install a 1 megawatt (MW) SPVA on-site at Buckley AFB on the southern portion of the installation. This SPVA system would be designed for future expansion to a 2+ MW system onto the surface of Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Site 3 which is a former base dump. Design of the SPVA would comply with 2008 National Electric Code (NEC) and NFPA-70 criteria. Initially, a 1 MW system encompassing approximately 5,600 solar panels mounted on racks, aligned in access rows, and positioned in a southerly direction would be located on approximately 10 acres. The arrays would be embedded into the ground with concrete footings. A small unmanned building, no larger than 1,500 square feet would be built for storage. Inverters would be used to transform DC to AC. Transformers would be installed to step up voltage so that it is compatible with the Buckley AFB system. The stepped up power would then be connected to the Buckley AFB power distribution system. Security fencing would completely surround the SPVA. This SPVA system would be designed to accommodate future expansion to a 2+ MW system which could encompass the portion of IRP Site 3 above the 100-year floodplain and could occupy up to approximately 40 acres. Underground trenches would not exceed 3 feet in the expansion area. Construction activities under the proposed action would avoid impacts to groundwater monitoring wells associated with IRP Site 3 and Buckley AFB operations associated with those wells. Currently, there are approximately 12 acres in IRP Site 3 above the 100-year floodplain that require additional landfill cover. No construction would occur in these areas until the landfill cover work is complete.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA609383
Entities
People
- Bruce James
- Dale Carlson
- Elise Sherva
- Floyd Hatch
- Jeff Lindquist
- John Spann
- Laurie Fisher
- Mark Spangler
- Sandra Ingrassia