Federal stimulus dollars from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are currently funding the largest solar photovoltaic system on a Marine Corps base in the United States right here in San Diego County at Camp Pendleton. This $9.4 million green project is creating union jobs for IBEW Local 569 that are good for local workers and the environment.
The 1.48 megawatt project was awarded to Synergy Electric on December 3, 2009 and is employing approximately 15 IBEW Local 569 members. Not only will it help power the base with clean emission-free energy, this project is creating union construction jobs for local San Diegans with family healthcare, pension retirement and skilled training opportunities.
Foreman Leo Zapata and Project Manager Jerry Zapata are both graduates of IBEW Local 569’s apprenticeship program and are thrilled to be a part of this exciting project.
Leo Zapata notes, “It’s a great feeling to see our tax dollars at work creating union jobs that are putting local San Diegans to work and improving our environment.”
Jerry Zapata adds, “I feel fortunate that Synergy Electric and IBEW Local 569 have the opportunity to be a part of this historic project. “
Because the system is being built on top of a landfill that has been capped, it was not possible to drill into the ground to install the solar units. To overcome this challenge, Synergy Electric used its design-build expertise to come up with an alternative way to construct the project. To avoid disturbing the landfill cap, the solar units will mount to a racking system that is attached to several 3,400 lb. precast concrete blocks that sit on top of the ground. The final project will consist of 6,300 235-watt modules which will feed into three 500kW inverters. The AC electricity will be converted to 12Kv and will be backfed onto the grid.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
