The team at groSolar has been busy in 2015, developing new solar projects, completing others, and winning awards for the excellence of our solar design and engineering. For more than 15 years, groSolar has consistently been one of the nation’s leading solar firms, providing high quality and innovative solutions for solar projects. The firm has developed, engineered, supplied, and constructed more than 200 MW of solar projects in the United States for commercial and utility customers on sites such as brownfields, landfills, sensitive agricultural lands, and manufacturing facilities. This year, the team is expanding solar opportunities in new markets such as Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, as well as continuing our award-winning efforts in states such as New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Indiana.

Construction Completed on 4.5 MW (DC) Project in Massachusetts

In January, groSolar completed construction of a solar project in Templeton, Massachusetts. This 4.5 MW (DC) ground-mounted project, designed and built by groSolar, was developed by Tenk Energy and sold to Integrys Solar, LLC.  The Templeton Municipal Light & Water Plant is purchasing the power generated by the project under a 20 year power purchase agreement (PPA).

“groSolar greatly appreciated the partnership approach that carried through the development, engineering and construction (EPC) process for this project,” said groSolar CEO, Jamie Resor. “All of the partners worked together through the challenges and towards a successful project that will provide a reliable source of solar energy for the community.”

 

Leading Edge Vermont Solar Farm Wins 2015 Project of Distinction Award

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) awarded the Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland the 2015 Project of Distinction Award in March, 2015. The award recognizes the highest achievement for a PV solar energy project of any scale.

The project, engineered and built by groSolar for Green Mountain Power, consists of 7,700 solar and four MW of battery storage, including emergency power for the nearby emergency shelter. It’s built on top of a closed landfill.

“We’re thrilled to have this project recognized for its national significance and are confident it will lead to similar applications elsewhere. Partnering with Green Mountain Power to develop and build this innovative system is a huge feather in our cap and we are grateful for the recognition from the folks at SEIA and SEPA,” said groSolar CEO Jamie Resor. “Completing this project and receiving this award wouldn’t have been possible without everyone who was involved in this partnership. It’s exciting to see the PV industry grow and mature in Vermont and elsewhere.”

Stafford Hill is an exciting new project designed to improve resiliency and safety in communities by generating solar energy that can be stored and used to power an emergency shelter at Rutland High School in the event of weather-related power outages. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Stafford Hill Solar Farm is the first project to establish a micro-grid powered solely by solar and battery storage, with no fossil fuels.

 

groSolar Chosen to Develop Largest Solar Project in Michigan

Recently, the Lansing Board of Water and Light selected groSolar to develop and construct a 20MW project for the utility in Lansing, Michigan.  According to the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC), as cited in Midwest Energy News, Michigan’s largest solar project operating or under development is less than 1.5 MW. Michigan is just getting started in solar development, with solar energy currently making up 1 percent of the state’s renewable energy portfolio, according to the Michigan PSC, as cited in Midwest Energy News.

“groSolar is excited to bring our years of experience and expertise in solar development to help the Lansing Board of Water and Light benefit from solar projects that are cost effective and reliable,” said Jamie Resor, groSolar CEO. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Michigan municipal utilities and to develop, and design solar projects that meet their service territory needs.”

 

groSolar Selected to Develop Solar Project in Jacksonville, Florida

In April, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) announced that it had selected groSolar to develop and construct a 7MW solar project in Jacksonville, Florida. The project, called the Montgomery Solar Farm will deploy single-axis trackers to maximize the site’s contribution to JEA.

groSolar Selects NEXTracker for 105 MW Master Supply Agreement

On April 20^th, groSolar announced that it has entered into a 105 MW supply agreement with NEXTracker, designer and manufacturer of the world’s most advanced single axis PV trackers. Over the next three years, NEXTracker will deliver state-of-the-art trackers for groSolar’s solar projects in a range of geographies, from Michigan and Vermont, to Oklahoma, Florida, and Maryland as well as other parts of the United States.

“groSolar is excited to be working with NEXTracker; their innovative tracker technology provides tremendous flexibility for our typically layout-constrained sites – especially in Northeastern states such as Vermont and New York, as well as other parts of the country,” said Jamie Resor, groSolar CEO. “NEXTracker’s technology is one of the most welcome advancements to emerge in ground-mounted solar; it will enable us to help our customers lower cost and increase energy production.”