SoCore Energy, a Chicago-based solar developer, has been chosen as the solar developer to assist Walgreens in completing a multi-site PV initiative totaling 2 MW. Construction of the first 20 solar installations at Ohio-area Walgreens began earlier this month at stores in Cincinnati.
SoCore Energy is under contract to provide 90 Ohio solar installations for Walgreens. The first 53 will be completed by Nov. 11, pushing Walgreens' total number of solar sites to 136. The first tranche of installations includes 14 sites in Columbus and 19 other locations in southwest Ohio.
SoCore has chosen Power-One Inc. as its exclusive provider of inverters for these projects, and SolarWorld will supply its 240 W solar modules.
In May, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority provided a $5.2 million loan to SoCore for the development of the 53 rooftop solar systems across the state, including five in northwest Ohio. The remainder of the project's $9.9 million cost is being funded by SoCore and a federal solar tax credit. Akron-based FirstEnergy Solutions is a key project partner, SoCore adds. Walgreens will lease the arrays from SoCore for 10 years.
