SHAW AFB, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hunt Southern Group, a Hunt Military Community, in tandem with its military partner, Shaw Air Force Base, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Duke Energy and Hunt affiliate, Hunt Alternative Energy Investments, installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on more than 280 homes. In all, 284 homes have received 5,865 solar panels, helping to offset approximately 40 percent of the total annual electrical consumption at Shaw Military Housing.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this innovative project at Shaw Air Force Base,” said John Hoyt, Hunt Military Communities Vice President. “Installing these solar panels will not only reduce our dependence on foreign fuels, but will allow us to save money in utilities, money which will be directly reinvested back into housing. This is definitely a win-win situation.”
In all, solar energy production at Shaw Military Housing will equate to approximately 2.4 Million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. That amount is equivalent to removing nearly 400 cars a year or 648 tons of waste recycled.
The PV project at Shaw Air Force Base is another success resulting from the collaborative landmark legislation passed by South Carolina’s General Assembly in 2014, commonly known as Act 236. The law provided a framework for customers to install solar on their homes and businesses through strategic programs like the net metering incentive and rebate offerings. As a result, South Carolina is one of the country’s greatest success stories for renewable energy.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to support the US Air Force in meeting its long-term energy goals across the country,” explained Abe Weiner, Hunt Alternative Energy Investments. “Working closely with the Air Force, Hunt Military Communities, Duke Energy and our funding partners, the Shaw Solar project exemplifies how public-private partnerships are able to greatly enhance energy sustainability and resiliency.”
Duke Energy’s Solar Rebate Program helped with the costs of the Shaw project and has provided more than $50 million in rebates as an extra incentive for customers who wanted to go solar across its South Carolina footprint.
“We are proud to be the energy provider for Shaw Air Force Base and Hunt and support growing solar energy in South Carolina through our Solar Rebate Program,” said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president. “The new panels will bring economic and environment benefits to the base, its families, and South Carolina – which is exactly what we envisioned from Act 236 and what we want to continue in the state going forward."
Shaw Air Force Base joins one of more than a dozen military privatized housing developments throughout the nation to add solar paneling to its homes.
"Here at Shaw, it is our priority to take action in improving our environmental impact," said Colonel Derek O'Malley, 20th Fighter Wing commander. “We are committed to doing our part in the movement towards energy conservation and anticipate that the installation of these solar panels in base housing will be beneficial not only to our residents, but also the Sumter community as a whole."
The Department of Defense is the nation’s largest energy user and is focused on reducing energy demand through programs like The Air Force Energy Plan. The plan is focused on developing and utilizing renewable and alternative energy wherever possible as well as changing the user’s culture by increasing energy awareness in day-to-day operations.
About Hunt Military Communities
Hunt’s Military Communities division is a 50-year partnership created between the Department of Defense and Hunt through the Military Housing Privatization Act. As part of the partnership, Hunt owns approximately 52,000 units spread across more than 40 military installations on Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army installations and is the largest privatized military housing developer in the nation.