Solar Group To Bid On 200 Megawatts Of Michigan Generation
New Generation Power Michigan LLC announced Thursday that it is bidding 100 megawatts of solar renewable energy and 100 megawatts of wind energy for Detroit Edison's renewable energy request for proposals.
The company said the projects are estimated to cost between $650 million and $700 million.
The projects are proposed to be located in and around Albion, and will be able to generate enough electricity to power over 28,500 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate of 283,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from over 47,000 cars.
New Generation Power Michigan said about 500 jobs will either be saved or created in the Albion market alone through the project, as well as thousands of other jobs across the country, including design services and manufacturing.
"Again, we locked up the funding, we'll break ground this fall and put hundreds of Michigan construction workers back on the job, " said Michael Pontarelli, senior vice president of environmental development.
The consortium involved in the project includes several solar and wind companies. Also, the companies said a portion of the projects' profits will go to Starr Commonwealth, a Calhoun County boarding school and operator of community-based intervention and prevention program for at-risk youth. The New Generation Power Michigan team will also provide internships, learning opportunities and employment for Starr Commonwealth youth.
"This collaboration presents significant opportunities for the people of south central Michigan, and we are particularly excited about the potential opportunities it would create for the young people served by Starr Commonwealth," said Martin L. Mitchell, Starr Commonwealth President and CEO.
The New Generation Power Michigan Team includes the following major members:
* Chicago-based New Generation Power is the prime contractor and manages the renewable energy system
* Albion-based Patriot Solar and San Francisco-based Martifer Solar USA will provide engineering, procurement and construction for PV solar projects. Patriot Solar will also provide racking materials.
* Wayland-based Windemuller Electric will provide engineering, procurement and construction for wind generation projects
* Starr Commonwealth will provide land to build solar and wind facilities
* Wanxiang America, a subsidiary of a Chinese firm, will provide solar photovoltaic panels made in a new plant in Rockford, Ill.
* Holland-based Solar Street Lights USA provides solar engineering
* Rockford, Ill.-based Anderson Environmental & Engineering Co. provides environmental permitting and assessments.
New Generation Power is also currently building an up to 62-megawatt Rockford Solar Project, the largest PV solar development in the Midwest and one of the largest in the United States.
More at www.newgenerationpower.org, www.patriotsolargroup.com, www.martifersolarusa.com, www.windemuller.us, www.starr.org, www.wanxiang.com, www.solarstreetlightsusa.com, or www.andersonenveng.com.
