A solar roof shopping plaza via solaraerials
The largest rooftop solar initiative is underway. Called Project Amp, the goal is to bring 733 Mega Watts (MW)of additional energy into the USA. The consortium consists of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Bank of America, and a collection of other public and private companies. Partially supported by the 2009 stimulus bill, $1.4 billion USD is already available with a conditional commitment from the DOE, and another $12 billion in reserves.
Phase 1 will come from 90% U.S. sources parts, and will take over 750 existing rooftops managed by Prologis. Beginning in Southern California, lead investor NRG Energy will oversee a 15.4 MW installation. All power will be sold to Southern California Edison. Ultimately, 28 states and D.C. will benefit from this project. An estimated 1 million MWh of power will be generated annually, which they state as powering 88,000 homes. An environmentally friendly 580,000 tons of carbon pollution will be saved thanks to the effort. In this grand project, only 1,000 new jobs will be created.
Looks like Tata Steel and Dyesol's rooftop panels were a good idea with another $12 billion at stake for solar in the U.S.
Eavesdropper