Ironwood State Prison Gets Solar Array
Ironwood State Prison near Blythe was the site this week for the unveiling of SunEdison’s latest
photovoltaic facility, which is now producing 1.18 megawatts of electricity.
The photovoltaic system, which will deliver 2.4 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean
renewable energy in the first year of operation, was deployed through an innovative public-private
partnership between the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and
SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider.
Under a solar power services agreement (SPSA) SunEdison financed, constructed and will
operate the solar energy system. The CDCR avoids all upfront capital costs and will purchase the
solar energy at predictable prices equal to or less than current retail rates. The solar system
will produce no greenhouse gases, no noise and will use no water in operation.
According to Ironwood Warden Debra Dexter, “We are strongly committed to being a good
neighbor and in doing what’s right for our community. Leveraging our most plentiful natural
resource – the desert sun – while protecting a limited local resource – water – makes both
environmental and fiscal sense for Ironwood and California taxpayers. This partnership with
SunEdison makes it possible for Ironwood Prison to be the community’s host for solar energy.”
Ironwood is the second PV system SunEdison is managing under an SPSA for CDCR. In June 2006,
SunEdison activated a 1.16 MW solar power system at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. The system at
Chuckawalla has produced more than 3.7 million kWh since commercial activation.
Over 20 years of production, the system will offset 31,627,817 lbs of carbon dioxide, the
equivalent of removing 3,100 cars from the road. It will produce 35,981,589 kWh over 20 years, the
equivalent of powering 3,377 homes.
Encouraged by the success of the CVSP and ISP systems, CDCR is accelerating the process to
install solar systems at 10 additional facilities. The additional installations will add
significantly to the department’s renewable energy portfolio.