Two years after a solar-power installation at Denver International Airport started generating electricity, the airport said Wednesday it is seeking a second solar power plant.
DIA said it will ask Denver city council members to approve building a photovoltaic solar-power plant to send electricity into the airport’s fuel-storage and fuel-distribution facility.
The plant would cost about $7 million and generate up to 1.6 megawatts of power from panels placed on nine acres of land north of the airport’s airfield, according to DIA.
The airport said it is asking the council to approve an agreement with MP2 Capital LLC, based in San Rafael, Calif., and Oak Leaf Energy Partners in Denver to develop the system. Once operational, probably by the end of 2009, the new solar power plant is expected to provide all the fuel farm’s electricity demands, according to DIA.
“We expect this project to reduce energy costs for our airline and cargo business partners over the 20-year term of the agreement,” Aviation Manager Kim Day said in the announcement. “DIA has a widespread reputation as a ‘green’ airport, and this project is another example of our commitment to environmental responsibility.”
The proposal calls for DIA to buy electricity generated by the system at a rate equal to 90 percent of Xcel Energy Inc.’s rate.
DIA’s existing solar power plant near the terminal can generate 2 megawatts of power. It started operation in August 2008.
