Northeast Philadelphia Airport may be on the verge of a significant green energy milestone that could set a new standard for how the city powers its public facilities.
A proposed 1.5-megawatt solar farm, still awaiting City Council approval, would generate an estimated 3,000 megawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to cover the airport’s entire operational energy demand, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
If approved, it would become the largest municipal on-site solar installation in Philadelphia.
The project would be built and owned by Reactivate LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy, under a 25-year power purchase agreement at a fixed rate.
That long-term pricing structure is designed to shield the airport from volatile energy markets while generating an estimated $116,000 in savings over the life of the contract.
“The Department of Aviation is committed to purchasing or generating 100% renewable energy through collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability,” airport sustainability manager Jessica Noon told City Council during a recent hearing.
The airport isn’t starting from zero.
Rooftop solar panels already top its administrative building, and the facility’s electrical infrastructure has been upgraded to support the larger array.
The project also represents a second attempt at expanding solar capacity as an earlier effort collapsed in 2022 due to grid-connection problems.
Officials are now targeting a Dec. 31, 2027 launch date for electricity generation.
To learn how the ambitious solar project at Northeast Philadelphia Airport could reshape the airport’s energy future and become a model for renewable power across the city, read the full article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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