Lakeland Electric Signs Historic Agreement To Deploy More Solar Per Customer Than Any Other U.S. Utility
LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lakeland Electric and SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy services provider, today announced a public-private partnership to deploy 24 megawatts of solar. The program will be the largest utility-sponsored photovoltaic (PV) solar program per metered customer in the United States to date, averaging 214 watts per meter among Lakeland Electric's approximately 112,000 customers.
Under the agreement, SunEdison will provide utility-scale solar energy services to Lakeland Electric. SunEdison will finance, build, own, operate, monitor and maintain photovoltaic solar energy systems for Lakeland Electric, which then avoids all upfront capital equipment costs.
The full 24 MW of solar capacity will include ground-mount and rooftop systems throughout Lakeland Electric's service area.
Over 20 years, 24 MW of solar capacity is estimated to produce enough zero-emission solar electricity to offset more than 813 million pounds of carbon dioxide produced by traditional energy sources. This is the equivalent of removing almost 80,000 cars from U.S. roadways.
"Environmental stewardship is important to our community, to Lakeland city leadership and to Lakeland Electric. It is vital that every utility consider carefully how to meet customers' increasing needs for electricity and do it in a way that is fiscally and environmentally prudent. Deploying utility-scale solar with no upfront costs is a win-win for Lakeland. We are pleased to be working with SunEdison on this innovative program," noted Jim Stanfield, General Manager for Lakeland Electric.
"Lakeland Electric is taking a strong leadership position in the utility industry and showing how solar can be incorporated into electricity services. SunEdison is proud to be working with Lakeland Electric to meet their customers' desire for clean solar electricity," noted Brian Jacolick, GM, Americas of SunEdison.
About SunEdison
Sun Edison LLC is North America's largest solar energy services provider and operates across a global marketplace. SunEdison provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail utility rates to a broad and diverse client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com.
Copyright 2008 Business Wire All Rights Reserved