SolarCity has launched a solar program “SolarStrong” to build more than US$1 billion in solar projects to provide power to 120,000 military homes throughout the U.S. As part of SolarStrong, SolarCity partnered with Balfour Beatty Communities and completed more than 1,300 rooftop solar installations in Balfour Beatty Communities-managed Navy housing communities located in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
The project brings more than 7.5MW of solar power generation capacity to the residential housing areas operated by Balfour Beatty Communities at five naval bases located in the northeast. This effort builds on the 13.3MW of rooftop solar that Balfour Beatty Communities and SolarCity partnered to develop across the Balfour Beatty Communities-managed housing at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
"We are committed to adding value to the communities we manage through sustainable programs like the rooftop solar effort with SolarCity," said Chris Williams, president of Balfour Beatty Communities. "We're pleased to generate cost savings for this project while offering a clean energy source to our residents through these innovative solutions."
SolarCity designs, builds and maintain the solar panels, and Balfour Beatty Communities purchases the power they produce at a discount to local utility rates, generating savings for the overall project.
Through the SolarStrong initiative, SolarCity has newly hired approximately two-dozen staff brought on directly for the Navy Northeast projects and an additional 90 staff mobilized to speed completion. It continues its veteran hiring commitment and has hired military veterans in over 90 locations across the United States in installation, recruiting, business development, sales and more.