Army selects Standard Solar for energy initiative

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A Maryland solar power company has been tapped to develop photovoltaic solar power on U.S. Army installations.

The contract, a multiple award task order, was given to Standard Solar by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, working with the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force.

Twenty-one other companies have been given the contract, under which they will compete for future solar projects to produce locally generated, renewable energy and micro-grid solutions for Army installations through power purchase agreements.

"This is a very important step forward for the Army and solar, as the goal here is to really showcase the tremendous potential solar has in not just meeting energy and environmental benchmarks, but also to demonstrate its ability to provide energy security," said Scott Wiater, Standard Solar president.

Standard Solar is a full-service company dedicated to the development, construction, integration, financing and installation of solar electric systems.

The Department of Defense last year adopted a clean energy initiative and aims to deploy three gigawatts of renewable energy -- solar, wind, biomass and geothermal -- technologies on Army, Navy and Air Force installations by 2025.