A Milford distribution center has become the first operational Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) project in the state with the debut of a 2.1 megawatt solar array.
The project was installed by Dynamic Energy Solutions LLC based in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
The SCEF program was created through legislation passed in 2018. It allows low- and moderate-income ratepayers to own part of a solar system, creating an opportunity for them to receive benefits from clean energy sources
Eligible projects are chosen through a competitive bidding process, with the first procurement occuring in 2020, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The 2.1 MW system at 40 Pepes Farm Road became operational earlier this month, the developer, Dynamic Energy Solutions, said.
It’s expected to generate enough electricity to power about 300 homes each year, while offsetting roughly 1,825 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
There is a growing trend in commercial real estate to host community solar projects on industrial rooftops, according to Dynamic Energy Solutions.
“We are committed to building distributed energy resources close to the communities where the energy will be used,” said John Conley, president and CEO of Dynamic Energy. “Forward-thinking policies like Connecticut’s SCEF program are unlocking new opportunities to generate clean energy on otherwise dormant rooftop space.”
The Milford project is on the roof of a roughly 200,000-square-foot building owned by STAG Industrial, a real estate investment trust located in Boston. The building serves as a warehouse for Thule Group, a Swedish company that owns brands related to outdoor and transportation products.
The rooftop solar array is owned by DSD Renewables, a distributed energy solution provider.
