Indiana based Inovateus Solar was awarded the installation of a 2.5-megawatt AC, ground-mounted solar array project for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) an operating unit of American Electric Power (AEP).
The future site of the new I&M solar array is in Marion, Indiana, adjacent to the company's Deer Creek substation. Groundbreaking for the new project took place July 24 at the site. This solar project with Inovateus marks the first for I&M. The Deer Creek solar array will encompass over 17-acres near the substation.
Inovateus Solar, which has provided solar integration and installation services to a myriad of projects worldwide, is especially excited about this Indiana installation in its own back yard. The President of the firm, T.J. Kanczuzewski, explained at the groundbreaking event on July 24 that this is the biggest local project provided by his firm.
"Inovateus Solar is extremely happy to be working with I&M and AEP on this groundbreaking project for our region," said Kanczuzewski. "We applaud I&M's commitment to solar energy and we are dedicated to making this project a success for everyone involved."
Once completed, the 2.5 MW array will provide the grid with the equivalent energy to power over 350 homes for one year. The system consists of 9,972, 310-watt solar panels and 11 Nextronex 250 inverters.
"The environmental offsets of the Deer Creek array are significant," stated Senior Account Executive and Project Manager for Inovateus Solar, Nathan Vogel. "It's equivalent to the energy of over 7,600 barrels of oil per year, 43 tankers of gasoline per year, or burning almost 18 rail cars of coal per year. We are so pleased to be working with our own Northern Indiana utility, Indiana Michigan Power, on this project."
"I&M is very pleased to partner with Inovateus Solar in building our first utility-scale solar generation facility," said Paul Chodak III, President and Chief Operating Officer of Indiana Michigan Power. "I&M welcomes the opportunity to work with this experienced Indiana solar company to add emission-free solar energy to our generation portfolio."
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