Commercial, Industrial, Regulation, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  August 30, 2017

Amazon unveils massive rooftop solar project

Amazon.com Inc. on Aug. 29 announced what it says is the largest rooftop solar project in New Jersey: A 22,000-panel system at its fulfillment center in Carteret. 

The roof of the facility spans 30-acres, according to a report from the Home News Tribune. Power generated from the project is expected to cover 80% of the fulfillment center's electricity needs. At peak sunlight, the system can reportedly generate 7.5 MW of power, NJ.com reported. 

At an event unveiling the installation, which took close to a year to complete, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone reportedly called the project a private-public partnership given the utilization of the state and federal tax credits. Amazon would not disclose the cost of the project, according to news outlets. 

"I've always been a big advocate that the federal and state government need to continue to provide those types of incentives. Otherwise, the companies won't do it," the Home News Tribute quoted Pallone as saying. "Eventually, we won't need to do those things because the price of everything will come down as more solar panels are produced."

Amazon partnered with Sol Systems and IGS Solar on the project. 

The e-commerce giant has been ramping its use of renewable energy for some time. About a year ago, it announced what was its largest renewable energy investment to-date, a 253-MW wind farm in Scurry County, Texas. 

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