Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Massachusetts Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. have joined City of New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang to launch a city-wide, multi-site solar power initiative. The project, which will use solar panels that are exclusively manufactured in the U.S., is expected to call for the installation of up to 10 MW of energy.
The City of New Bedford will install rooftop and ground-based photovoltaic units at city-owned sites. Locations will include municipal buildings, schools and selected municipal land parcels. All installations are expected to be operational by 2013. City officials predict that total savings could reach as high as $10 million by 2033.  Â
The city is undertaking the project in cooperation with two private-sector partners: Boston-based BlueWave Capital LLC and Consolidated Edison Solutions Inc. of Valhalla, N.Y., and Burlington, Mass.
ConEdison Solutions will own the solar installations on city sites and will enter into long-term power purchase agreements with the city. ConEdison Solutions will also be responsible for installation and ongoing operations and maintenance, as well as provide for financing of the projects.
Beaumont Solar Co. of New Bedford is designing and constructing the fast-tracked roof-top projects to be completed in 2011. Meanwhile, Alteris Renewables, a Real Goods Solar company, is designing and constructing the largest of the proposed New Bedford projects, an approximately 4 MW ground system on land owned by New Bedford in Freetown near the Quatticas Reservoir.Â
