Indianapolis airport commissions large solar project

   The Indianapolis International Airport has recently commissioned what’s considered to be the largest solar project at a U.S. airport so far, with an output of 12.5 megawatts of electric power.
   The project was developed in partnership with General Energy Solutions, Telamon Corp., Johnson Melloh Solutions, Indianapolis Airport Authority and Indianapolis Power & Light Co.
   The IND Solar Farm consists of 44,128 panels erected on 75 acres at the Indiana airport.
   “A solar facility of this size has the capacity to generate more than 16.5 million kilowatt hours of electric energy annually — enough to power more than 1,800 average American homes for a year,” the developers said.
   The airport does receive its power from the IPL power grid, so the airport may receive a portion of power from the solar farm – albeit no differently than local homes and business will receive theirs. However, the main benefit to the airport is the land-lease revenue on the previously undeveloped land where the solar farm now resides.
   Indianapolis airport receives about 137 daily flights. It’s home to the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility.