Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. has supplied 3.4 megawatts (MW) of solar panels for a solar installation at the Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, the company recently stated.

"We're honored to support our country and its efforts to achieve energy independence,” said Mike Starr, Production Manager at Suntech Arizona and former U.S. Army non-commissioned officer (NCO). “Now that we're running full-steam ahead here at the Goodyear factory, it's exciting to see our products helping to make the U.S. clean energy economy a reality."

The solar installation project, managed by Borrego Solar, consists of more than 12,000 solar panels, all manufactured at Suntech's facility in Goodyear, AZ. Production at the Goodyear facility have all been certified for procurement under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Buy American Act projects.

"It's a great feeling to know that our daily work here in Goodyear benefits our country,” said Derick Bangle, Maintenance Technician at Suntech Arizona and former Specialist 4, U.S. Army. “We can make a difference with each solar panel that comes off our manufacturing lines."

Borrego Solar will provide Edwards Air Force Base with clean power under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Suntech. The clean power will be sold to the base cost-effectively and at a fixed rate which will help offset energy consumption by approximately six percent across three facilities.

"This project was a big milestone for Borrego Solar and the military, as it demonstrates how public-private partnerships can succeed and provide the most effective means to drive large-scale solar energy systems on government property,” said Mike Hall, CEO of Borrego Solar. “Looking ahead, we are excited to work with more military and federal facility managers to help them take full advantage of the financial benefits that come from using solar to generate clean, sustainable energy and local jobs."

Suntech's Goodyear, Arizona, manufacturing unit is an 117,000 square foot manufacturing facility, featuring automated manufacturing and product testing equipment. The facility manufacturers multicrystalline silicon solar panels used in commercial and utility-scale electricity generation.

"Our utility bills for the summer actually double, but our consumption only goes up three percent,” said James Judkins, Civil Engineering Director for the 95th Air Base Wing. “What we're trying to do with this project is not so much conserve energy, but save money. Our utility bill can range anywhere from $15 million to $18 million a year and you have to pay that bill. If you don't have the electricity, the planes don't fly."