North America’s largest rooftop solar power plant has been formally completed following the presentation of an US$11m federal tax credit rebate from US Rep. Robert Andrews to Gloucester Marine Terminal officials.
Known as Riverside Renewable Energy, the US$42m project consists of 27,526 photovoltaic rooftop solar panels covering 1.1m ft2 of rooftop at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, which is owned by the Holt family.
The power plant has the capacity to produce 9.0mw of electricity – enough to power more than 1,500 homes – and is regarded as the largest of its kind in North America, according to a press release from Holt Logistics.
“The Riverside project is an outstanding example of how we can create jobs that move us towards cleaner, more efficient and cost-saving energy that doesn’t come from overseas,” said Congressman Andrews.
Leo Holt, president of Gloucester Terminals, said that the project positions Gloucester Terminals for future success in an “incredibly competitive field” and helps ensure “plenty of activity” for the Delaware River port community.
The Riverside project sits atop the roof of the terminal’s refrigerated warehouse near the Walt Whitman Bridge on the Delaware River on the US East Coast.
Construction on the solar project began in June 2011 and was completed on budget and ahead of schedule last autumn (fall), according to Holt Logistics.
Riverside will generate the equivalent of up to 80 per cent of the Terminal’s power demand.
The system is expected to offset more than 8,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide, approximately the same amount that would be offset by planting 400,000 trees or removing 1,200 cars from the road.
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