The Baldock Solar Highway project, located 30 miles south of Portland, Oregon broke ground on August 23, 2011. The project will use all Sapa produced aluminum. Sapa partnered with HatiCon Solar who will develop and produce high-quality, environmentally responsible mounting systems for the project. Sapa customer, SolarWorld of Hillsboro, OR will produce 6,994 250-watt solar panels, which will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power the Baldock rest area as well as 165 homes!
In addition to generating clean, renewable energy the project will support local businesses, local workers and the state economy by creating roughly 70 jobs. Oregon companies will supply the materials, and design, install, operate and maintain this project.
The concept of generating solar electricity in the highway right of way is keen interest to state and federal elected officials, state agencies, the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy and solar industry providers. “Roadside solar” has operated successfully for over 20 years in Europe, but it had not been attempted in the United States until a similar Oregon project in December 2008.
“The Baldock Solar Highway project is a great example of how the Obama Administration is promoting alternative energy sources,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “With the Baldock Solar Highway project, we are using innovation in transportation to help protect our environment.”
The project, which will cost approximately $10 million to build, is being paid for through a public private partnership similar to the one that paid for the nation’s first solar highway project. The Baldock Solar Highway is made possible through a combination of public investment, private financing, utility incentives, and tax credits, including the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) and the federal Investment Tax Credit. Portland General Electric’s Clean Wind fund and grant funding through the U.S. Department of Energy also support the Oregon Solar Highway.
Sapa is very pleased to be supporting this landmark project and we look forward to seeing more innovative partnerships like this! Construction for the project will take about 6 months to complete. Plans are for the array to begin producing renewable energy in early 2012.
Learn more at www.oregonsolarhighway.com