Port of Charleston goes solar

The South Carolina Ports Authority plans to bring in additional revenue by leasing rooftop space to a solar energy provider, which will then make money by selling the power generated by the panels to utility company South Carolina Electric & Gas.    The South Carolina Ports Authority plans to install solar power at the Wando Welch and Columbus Street terminals this summer.
   The solar arrays will be installed on warehouse rooftops and generate 3.7 megawatts of electricity, significantly off-setting the port’s energy usage and reducing its power costs, the port authority said. 
   The panels will be owned and maintained by SolBright Renewable Energy LLC of Charleston, which will make monthly payments to the SCPA under a 25-year rooftop lease. The panels are expected to generate $1.5 million or more in profit for the SCPA over the life of the lease. SolBright will make money by selling the power generated by the panels to South Carolina Electric & Gas.
   With the new installation, the Port of Charleston will become the largest rooftop solar host in the state. That distinction is currently held by Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in nearby North Charleston, which was also installed by SolBright.
  “The port has a responsibility to operate in a manner that is both mindful of the environment and good for business,” South Carolina Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome said in a statement.