Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) partnered with Greenskies Clean Focus to install a 231.77 kW solar energy system at Oak Bluffs Elementary School in Massachusetts. Annually, the solar array of 600 PV panels can generate over 265,000 kWh of clean energy, offsetting more than 414,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2).CVEC is a public cooperative established in 2007, comprised of 25 member towns and counties on the Cape and Martha's Vineyard, with 60 solar photovoltaic (PV) projects (58 MW) completed or under contract since 2013. They support the development of renewable energy resources to help MA member communities achieve significant electrical cost savings.
This project, part of CVEC's Round 5 PV/Storage Initiative RFP, includes a Tesla 58 kW/232 kWh energy storage system unit. This is CVEC's first solar PV project that includes battery storage. "Where resiliency is so important to this region's communities, such as Oak Bluffs, we know that it is an important addition to our member's renewable energy portfolio," said CVEC's Executive Director Maria Marasco.
"Greenskies is excited to continue our relationship with CVEC and support coastal communities like Oak Bluffs with clean, renewable energy," said Stanley Chin, President and CEO of Greenskies. "Solar helps reduce environmental impact by decreasing the carbon footprint associated with energy needs."
Greenskies was selected to develop, design, finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain the system for a 20-year term. This project marks the eleventh collaboration between CVEC and Greenskies over the last eight years.