D-M to host 16.4 MW solar array ribbon cutting

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Davis-Monthan photovoltaic solar array project will be held here Feb 13, at 9:30 a.m. The 16.4 megawatts solar array is the largest of its kind on any U.S. Department of Defense installation.

Davis-Monthan entered into an agreement with SunEdison, LLC in 2010 to design, finance, build, operate and maintain the array on 170 acres of underutilized land at two locations on the base. The agreement will provide approximately 35 percent of the base's electricity requirements at an economically beneficial rate for 25 years, reducing base utilities cost by an average of $500,000 annually.

Guest speakers at the event include Col. Kevin Blanchard, Commander, 355th Fighter Wing; Dr. Kevin Geiss, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy; Maricela Solis, District Director, Office of Congressman Ron Barber; Bob Powell, President, North America, Solar Energy - SunEdison; David G. Hutchens, President, Tucson Electric Power; and Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who worked on the early stages of the project. Giffords husband Mark Kelly will be speaking on her behalf.

The Air Force is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government spending more than $9 billion annually in electricity and fuel costs. The Air Force is working to reduce energy consumption through various initiatives including renewable energy sources such as solar, with a stated goal to increase its renewable energy consumption to 25 percent by 2025.

Additional information for Dr. Kevin Geiss: www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108633/dr-kevin-t-geiss.aspx

Media wishing to cover the event should contact the 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at 520-228-3202 or 355fw.pa@dm.af.mil by 3 p.m. Feb. 11. Show time for media will be 8:45 a.m. at the Swan Gate on Feb. 13.