Energy Efficiency, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  August 29, 2018

Solar added to DEA site in Texas

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the El Paso Intelligence Center has completed a solar installation, representing a first for a DEA site.

A report by PVTech described the system as a 2.5MW PV project featuring more than 7,340 solar panels on a pair of ground-mounted solar plants at the Center’s location.

The solar system was built by Ameresco, which will own and operate the project for 20 years. The DEA contracted with Ameresco in September 2017 under an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) through the U.S. Department of Energy’s ESPC ENABLE program.

The report noted that it is "expected to cut electricity costs, provide long-term electric pricing stability and lower carbon emissions of more than 3,400 metric tons annually. Ameresco will own and operate the solar project for 20 years."