General Services Administration Completes the Largest Non-Utility Owned
Solar array project is consistent with President’s goal to provide building efficiency upgrades and create jobs
Fort Worth, Texas – Today, Steve Leeds, GSA’s Chief Sustainability Officer and JD Salinas, GSA Greater Southwest Regional Administrator toured the recently completed solar array project at the Fort Worth Federal Center -- a project which was funded by an Energy Saving Performance Contract at no cost to tax payers. The project is the largest non-utility owned, ground mounted solar array in the state of Texas, and will reduce the costs for tax payers, while helping to green the local utility infrastructure. At peak hours, the energy generated from the panels will provide up to 11% of the Federal Center’s electrical needs.
The funding model for construction of this solar array is consistent with President Obama’s December 1, announcement of nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next 2 years. The $2 billion in energy efficiency upgrades for Federal buildings will utilize Energy Service Performance Contracts, at no cost to the taxpayers. These contracts provide for increased energy efficiency, reduced operating costs and the creation of jobs to put Americans back to work.
“The President’s announcement is a triple win for our country,” said Stephen Leeds, GSA Senior Counsel to the Administrator and Senior Sustainability Officer. “This commitment will fund projects that will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and pay for themselves.” Leeds continued by saying, “The President has challenged energy service companies to bring creative solutions and innovative technologies to the table, which will allow agencies to maximize their investment and achieve the greatest energy savings.”
Leeds toured the solar array with GSA Regional Administrator J.D. Salinas and several other members of GSA’s Energy Team from the Regional Offices in Fort Worth. “The Greater Southwest Region, which consists of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, has completed 13 solar renewable system projects, two solar thermal systems and one wind turbine project through the use of ESPCs, “ said Salinas. “The estimated annual cost savings is $4,789,967. That is something we are very proud of.”
The solar array consists of over 2,352 panels that will produce approximately 714,430 kWh per year. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity used to support approximately 60 homes per year. The solar array also provides for a reduction in carbon emissions equal to 55,229 gallons of gasoline or 1,146 barrels of oil consumed.
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As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions includes:
• Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 215,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;
• Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up approximately 14 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;
• Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,
• Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.
