The Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) has mobilized on three projects in Cape Cod in partnership with Distributed Solar Development (DSD).
The solar solutions CVEC is installing with DSD at the Captains Golf Course in Brewster, the Sandwich Police Department, and Monomoy Regional High School are expected to save more than $100,000 on annual energy costs across the three locations and offset nearly 900 metric tons of carbon emissions.
“Big things in clean, renewable energy are happening on the Cape this fall,” said Liz Argo, executive director at CVEC, which counts 24 municipalities in southeastern Massachusetts and the islands among its members. “CVEC currently manages 32 megawatts of renewable energy installed for our members. The three projects announced here herald the addition of another 20 megawatts CVEC will be adding to the Cape & Islands’ renewable energy portfolio, providing significant cost savings and critically needed lowering of emissions.”
Argo added that Massachusetts has established and exceeded aggressive benchmarks for solar capacity, already surpassing the 1600 MW goal it set for the end of 2020.
Installation of a new carport solar canopy over the parking lot at Brewster’s Captains Golf Course driving range is anticipated to begin Oct. 23. The system, anticipated to be turned on in early 2021, will produce an estimated 740,291 kWh annually, saving approximately 523 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and providing the Town of Brewster with more than $40,000 annually in revenue.
The Sandwich Police Department is also in the midst of a new solar installation, which includes two canopies extending over the station parking lot. This system should be complete before the end of 2020, and will generate 217,211 kWh per year, producing nearly $20,000 in annual energy savings and reducing the annual carbon footprint by approximately 154 metric tons of CO2e.
A recently completed 239.49 kW DC rooftop solar system at Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich installed in cooperation with the town will produce 282,200 kWh per year, eliminating approximately 200 metric tons of CO2e and providing a potential savings of $40,000 on the school’s energy bills.
