Ameresco builds largest floating solar plant in the Southeast at Fort Bragg

Photo | Ameresco Floating solar array at Fort Bragg, N.C.

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By Timothy Doyle

Framingham renewable energy firm Ameresco completed construction of a 1.1-megawatt solar facility on Big Muddy Lake, at Camp Mackall, part of Fort Bragg, N.C.

The facility is part of a $36-million contract Ameresco has with Charlotte-based utility Duke Energy to improve infrastructure at the installation to increase energy resiliency and security, according to a June 13th press release. The contract includes a 2-megawatt battery energy storage system.

The Big Muddy Lake facility is the first floating solar facility deployed by the U.S. Department of Defense. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility was on June 10.

“We are grateful for our relationship with Duke Energy and Ameresco,” Col. Scott Pence, former garrison commander for Fort Bragg, said in the press release. “With this system, the largest floating solar array in the Southeast, we will be able to provide energy resiliency to Fort Bragg operations through sustainable resources. With this partnership, Fort Bragg not only has renewable electricity, but energy security that will be critical with continuing the installation’s mission during a power outage.”

Fort Bragg is the largest military installation by population in the Army and is the home of Airborne and Special Operations forces, with approximately 49,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees and 23,000 family members, according to the U.S. Army website.

A joint venture of Ameresco and Hannah Solar Government Services of South Carolina was awarded a $7.9-million contract in May to construct another solar power system at the Army’s Tooele Army Depot in Tooele, Utah.