Siemens Government Technologies Inc. announced that the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center has awarded a $16.8 million task order to implement energy-conserving upgrades, including a 4.465MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power generating system - the largest to date for the U.S. Army - at the White Sands Missile Range, NM.  

The solar PV system is the primary component of the energy savings performance contract (ESPC) to be implemented by the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc. The solar PV system will provide the Army with approximately 10,000 solar renewable energy credits annually as well as qualify it for a 30% federal cash grant in excess of $4.8 million.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the solar PV system will help White Sands Missile Range achieve 10.8% renewable energy by the end of 2012, up from 0.5% and beating the 2013 government mandate by more than 3% points. This project supports President Barack Obama's directive that federal agencies use ESPCs to make $2 billion worth of energy efficiency upgrades over the next two years, as well as supporting the Army's renewable energy goals.

"This project implements a solar photovoltaic array system that will partially offset White Sands Missile Range's energy requirements, improve facilities and operations, demonstrate Army engineering and technology capabilities and align with the Army's Energy Security and NetZero objectives," says Judy Marks, President and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies Inc.

White Sands Missile Range is a Test and Evaluation Command Installation operated primarily for the support of research, development, test and evaluation of weapon and space systems, subsystems and components. Encompassing a missile range/rocket launch range, White Sands is one of the largest military installations in the U.S. covering 3,200 square miles. The facility is unique in the fact that it has several agencies on site as tenants including NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. is a Federally-compliant U.S. organization structured to provide answers for some of the nation's most challenging issues within the Federal market in infrastructure, energy, industry and healthcare. The company is the leading integrator for Siemens' innovative products, technologies and services to meet the needs of Federal customers. Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Siemens Industry, Inc. Building Technologies Division is the world's market leader for safe and energy efficient buildings ("green buildings") and infrastructures. As a service provider, system integrator and product vendor, Building Technologies has offerings for building automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), fire protection and security. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies