The 412th Test Wing unveiled a new solar facility on the northwest corner of Edwards Air Force Base, Feb. 2. The facility, built in collaboration with Terra-Gen LLC, is a result of the Edwards Solar Enhance Use Lease Project. The novel land management agreement marks the largest private – public partnership within the Department of Defense.
"The Edwards Air Force Base Solar Project is a triple win — it's good for resilience, it's good for energy security, and it's good for the economy," said Andrew Mayock, White House federal chief sustainability officer. "We commend the U.S. Air Force for its leadership and for showing what's possible when we invest in our nation's clean energy future."
Other speakers at the ceremony included Nancy J. Balkus, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety, and Infrastructure; Jim Pagano, Terra-Gen LLC chief executive officer; and Daniel L. Johnson, Mortenson CEO.
The facility, which has almost 2 million solar panels installed, can produce up to 1,300 megawatts of power to the California Independent System Operator grid. This grid is estimated to power over 238,000 homes, displacing more than 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The solar array itself is the largest project of its kind in U.S. Air Force history.
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