DENVER, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, a two megawatt (MW) solar
energy system was dedicated at Denver International Airport (DIA). The solar
photovoltaic system, spanning seven and a half acres at the airport's
entrance, will generate over three million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean
electricity annually, demonstrating Denver's commitment to environmental
sustainability by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere by more than
6.3 million pounds each year.
Celebrating the system's dedication was Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper,
together with the following executives and dignitaries: DIA Aviation Manager
Kim Day; Dick Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy; MMA Renewable
Ventures CEO Matt Cheney; Frank Smith, CEO, WorldWater & Solar Technologies
Corp.; and Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group.
MMA Renewable Ventures, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC
"MuniMae" (Pink Sheets: MMAB.PK) which financed, owns and operates the two
megawatt system, joined with WorldWater (OTC Bulletin Board: WWAT.OB) and
Denver International Airport to develop an innovative public-private
partnership, leveraging tax credits and incentives to finance this landmark
solar power system. This partnership enabled the City of Denver and Denver
International Airport to deploy this solar array under a long-term contract or
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Designed and installed by WorldWater, using
more than 9,200 Sharp solar panels, the new ground-mounted photovoltaic solar
arrays employ a single-axis tracking system that follows the sun during the
day for greater efficiency and energy production.
"This installation at Denver International Airport fits with our
Greenprint Denver action agenda for sustainability and our pledge to do all
that we can to reduce our carbon footprint," said Mayor John Hickenlooper.
"We are proud to have such a large and prominently placed solar power system
at DIA. This installation is both a symbol and a practical example of the
City's commitment to renewable energy."
Added Kim Day, aviation manager for Denver International Airport, "DIA has
a long-standing commitment to sustainable operations and environmental
protection. This project makes a visible environmental statement to the
millions of passengers that travel through our airport."
Frank Smith, CEO of WorldWater commented, "We are delighted that such a
major metropolitan airport as Denver International has embarked on a solar
energy system that is as impressive in scope as this two megawatt
installation, which is the equivalent in size to seven football fields. In
addition, our expertise in designing and installing commercial-scale solar
systems enabled us to address the complex power needs of a major
transportation hub like Denver International."
"By securing power through a power purchase agreement rather than major
capital investment, DIA will benefit from a renewable energy system that is
cost-effective from its very first day of operation, and for years to come,"
said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "Our collaborative effort
serves as an example of how successful public-private partnerships can help
municipal facilities make the most of tax credits and other incentives
available for solar energy."
Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, noted,
"As a leading global solar provider, Sharp is proud to be part of this
tremendous effort to help Denver achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.
This solar PV system will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
electricity costs, and grid constraints -- while helping to improve Denver's
air quality and the region's overall environment."
"This project is right in line with the clean energy future we envision at
Xcel Energy," said Dick Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. "We
were pleased to play a role in helping Denver and Colorado meet the ambitious
goals its leaders have set with the Renewable Energy Standard and Greenprint
Denver."
The project is part of the Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards program and will
receive a rebate to offset the upfront construction costs. Xcel Energy will
purchase the renewable energy credits from the clean electricity produced in
support of Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard, which requires large
utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from renewable energy sources
by 2020.
One of three U.S. airports to be accepted into the Environmental
Protection Agency's National Performance Track Program, DIA's solar project
illustrates how sustainable development can work as an integral operating
principle -- while the airport maintains a successful, profitable business,
breaking records for passenger traffic and earning high customer satisfaction
ratings. The array is one of the largest solar installations at any public
airport in the U.S.
Operated by the City and County of Denver, DIA is the fifth busiest
international airport in the United States, serving nearly 50 million
passengers annually. With the City of Denver, Xcel Energy has developed an
educational display in DIA's Jeppesen Terminal to explain the benefits of
solar energy.
B-roll video of the Denver International Airport solar power system can be
downloaded from:
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=Q01GWWV2c
GtwaFJFQlE9PQ
About MMA Renewable Ventures
A subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC "MuniMae,"
(OTC: MMAB.PK), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable
energy and energy efficiency projects in the United States. The Company
provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other customized
financial solutions to help its customers manage energy costs. MMA Renewable
Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively priced, clean energy and
energy savings to customers, strong partnership options for project
developers, and exceptional opportunities for institutional investment in the
clean energy sector. For more information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit
http://www.mmarenew.com.
About Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group
Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, based in Huntington Beach, California,
is a unit of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp
Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is a world market leader in solar cell
production, and offers both standard and integrated roof modules for home and
business applications. Sharp also is the U.S. market leader and maintains
solar panel assembly operations at its manufacturing facility in Memphis,
Tennessee. The solar manufacturing facility assembles a variety of panels for
residential and commercial installations.
Further information on Sharp's commitment to solar energy, its product
line and the ways in which Sharp makes it easy to go solar is available online
at http://www.solar.sharpusa.com. Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S.
subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of
one-of-a-kind home entertainment products, appliances, networked
multifunctional office solutions, solar energy solutions and mobile
communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS(R) Liquid
Crystal Televisions, 1-Bit(TM) digital audio products, SharpVision(R)
projection products, Insight(R) Microwave Drawer(R) appliances,
Plasmacluster(R) air purifiers and Notevision(R) multimedia projectors. For
more information visit Sharp Electronics Corporation at
http://www.sharpusa.com.
About WorldWater & Solar Technologies
WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. is a full-service solar electric
engineering, design and water management company with unique, high-powered and
patented solar technology providing solutions to a broad spectrum of the
world's electricity and water supply problems. The company also features
Mobile Max Pure(R), a portable, solar powered pumping and water purification
system capable of purifying up to 30,000 gallons of potable water daily. In
addition, WorldWater recently merged with ENTECH, Inc., a high-technology
solar energy company specializing in patented solar concentrating and PVT
systems. ENTECH's systems can produce electrical output, a combination of
electricity and thermal energy or thermal energy alone. Commercial
applications vary in size from one kilowatt remote power units to large,
multi-megawatt utility power plants. For more information go to
http://www.worldwater.com or http://www.entech.com.
SOURCE MMA Renewable Ventures