This is the first solar system Aerojet has installed and it is a significant part of the company's environmental and sustainability initiatives. During its first year of use, the Aerojet system is expected to offset approximately 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide, 16.7 tons of sulfur dioxide and approximately 6.5 tons of nitrogen oxide that would have otherwise been produced using fossil fuel power production.

The first-year net clean energy benefits equate to offsetting approximately 8,270,000 car miles driven or the clean air benefits realized from planting 976,520 trees. With a system life expectancy of 25 years, the cumulative life-cycle environmental offsets for a system of this scope are significant.

All of the power generated by the system will be utilized by Aerojet operations. "The electricity created by this solar facility provides over 20% of the power required to operate our extensive groundwater remediation program," said Scott Neish, president of Aerojet.

"This initiative is a major step in our efforts to help the environment, reduce our carbon footprint, and return approximately 20 acres of our significant land holdings in the Sacramento area to beneficial use."

The solar array will be ground mounted utilizing a single-axis tracking system, designed to follow the course of the sun throughout the day to maximize electricity production.

The solar array will consist of approximately 18,000 SPI 200 watt modules mounted atop 12 tracking arrays, covering more than 20 acres of the Aerojet site, which is located approximately 10 miles from the California state capitol.

"During the RFP process we competed with most of the major U.S. solar firms for this project. We are very proud to have been selected and we look forward to working with the Aerojet and SMUD teams throughout the project's execution," said Steve Kircher, CEO of Solar Power, Inc.

"The Aerojet installation will be one of the largest single-site industrial installations in the U.S., and to have it take place here, in close proximity to our international headquarters, where so many of our employees live makes it even more important to us. The system will serve Aerojet and our community; it will be installed by people from our region and will help to improve our environment."

Installation of the 3.5 megawatt system is expected to be completed in November of this year. SMUD is scheduled to interconnect the system to the power grid in November as well.

"SMUD is a utility solar pioneer here to provide energy solutions and a sustainable energy future for our customers," said John DiStasio, SMUD general manager and CEO. "We look forward to working with both Solar Power, Inc. and Aerojet as this project comes to fruition."

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