Expansion Approved for IND Solar Farm: the Largest Planned Airport Based Solar Farm in the World at the Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) October 28, 2014 -- The IND Solar Farm project partners are pleased to announce that a second phase of the IND Solar Farm at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Project partners include General Energy Solutions USA (GES), Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA), Johnson Melloh Solutions, Telamon Corporation, and Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL).
Construction has started and upon its estimated completion in December of this year, the 7.5MW AC, 76-acre solar system will make the IND Solar Farm the largest planned airport-based solar farm in the world. It will comprise 32,100 solar panels, annually producing more than 15.2 million kilowatt hours of electric energy, enough to power more than 1,410 average American homes for a year.
“The Indianapolis Airport Authority is proud to be a partner in this initiative, which has spurred new economic activity, including jobs and tax revenues, on undeveloped land near the airfield,” said Michael Wells, president of the IAA board of directors. “Since opening, the IND Solar Farm has become an iconic image at the entrance to our airport and a compelling symbol of Central Indiana’s ingenuity in pursuing sustainability and new economic development.”
“Having the world’s largest airport solar farm here in Indianapolis is a powerful testimony to our commitment to both economic and environmental sustainability,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “By harnessing limited-use land near the airfield, we are finding new ways to add to the $4.5 billion annual economic impact our airport generates for our region and new ways to expand the possibilities of green energy.”
“GES is honored to once again return to Indianapolis and be a part of this second phase of the IND Solar Farm, which showcases our innovative work with Sandia National Laboratory to create a system design that maximizes energy harvest,” said Jack Chen, Managing Director of GES. “We are grateful for the continued cooperation between all the project partners and look forward to future opportunities to invest in renewable energy in Indiana and beyond.”
“Johnson Melloh Solutions hopes that the people in our state that can make a difference in championing a more diverse energy mix will reference the Indianapolis International Airport solar project as an example of all the benefits of including photovoltaics in an effort to diversify our energy production in Indiana. Rising electric rates combined with decreased solar project costs have eliminated many of the excuses for not including more solar power into the overall energy mix,” said Nick Melloh, President of Johnson Melloh Solutions. “Congratulations to the IAA on being a leader and drawing much needed attention to the importance of solar in our overall energy mix.”
“Telamon is proud to be a part of the 7.5MW AC expansion of the IND Solar Farm and continue our project partner status with Johnson Melloh Solutions. Now that the solar farm will be the largest planned airport-based solar farm in the world upon completion, we hope this project will continue to educate the community on the benefits associated with solar and further prove that solar energy in Indiana works without pollution,” said Albert Chen, CEO & President of Telamon Corporation. “We thank the Indianapolis Airport Authority and Indianapolis Power & Light Company for their vision for our Indianapolis citizens.”
Similar to Phase One, the electricity produced by the solar farm will be distributed to IPL residential and commercial customers.
“IPL is a leader in solar generation, and is committed to developing alternative resources,” said IPL President and CEO, Kelly Huntington. “We believe offering cost-effective energy efficiency programs to our customers, and maintaining a balanced generation portfolio, are our best options to meet new and upcoming environmental standards while keeping the cost to customers affordable.”
For more information on the IND Solar Farm, visit http://www.indsolarfarm.com.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AUTHORITY
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport, its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport, and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010, 2012, and 2013 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus, and the airport has won additional recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs, and art and architecture.
IND generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than $4.5 billion, without relying on state or local taxes to fund its operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 7 million business and leisure travelers each year, and averages 135 daily flights to 35 nonstop destinations. Home of the world's second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis International Airport and Twitter page at @INDairport.
ABOUT GENERAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS USA (GES)
General Energy Solutions USA, a global solar energy company headquartered in Taiwan, is proud to help our clients secure a brighter and cleaner future by harnessing solar power to efficiently, safely and responsibly meet our energy needs, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing reliance on traditional fuels. Through close alliances with strategic partners, such as Neo Solar Power (http://www.nsp.com), GES’s major shareholder and second largest solar cell manufacturer in the world, GES invests responsibly in our communities at every step of the process to complete integrated solar energy solutions: wafers; solar cells; photovoltaic modules; and solar farm design, construction and operation. For more information, please visit http://www.gesyw.com.
ABOUT TELAMON CORPORATION
Telamon Corporation’s goal is to simplify business. Telamon specializes in solutions for telecommunication networks, business transaction processing, energy efficiency, industrial assembly, and telehealth services. Based in Carmel, Indiana, Telamon operates in ten locations - eight domestic and two international. Telamon, the Greek word for “support”, is uniquely positioned as a minority owned company. Telamon continuously exceeds customer expectations and standards and has been recognized globally through numerous awards and certifications. For more information, please visit Telamon’s website at http://www.telamon.com
ABOUT JOHNSON MELLOH SOLUTIONS
Formed in response to the growing need of an energy services company that can self-perform, Johnson Melloh Solutions focuses on energy conservation services and general contracting for customer classes, ranging from residential renewable energy offerings to energy savings contracting for school systems to large scale industrial energy plant management and service. JMS develops a holistic evaluation of their customers’ energy infrastructure and then has the wherewithal to implement the ideas. JMS stands ready to address all of the energy demands their clients may face. For more information, please visit http://www.johnsonmellohsolutions.com.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
Indianapolis Power & Light Company provides retail electric service to more than 470,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, IPL has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.IPLpower.com.
Alexa Amatulli, Telamon Corporation, +1 (317) 818-6705, [email protected]
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