Project owner Ben Moreell Solar Farm and the Department of the Navy executed a lease for approximately 170 acres of land for the purpose of constructing a 28.5MW ground-mount project. The solar farm is owned by energy and commodities company Vitol Green Holdings LLC.
The solar project will be tied directly to the local utility grid. In case of emergency, and with further investment, the green energy power plant can be modified to power the navy base, which has a combined workforce of more than 1,500 civilian, military, and contractor personnel.
CS Energy has installed more than 80MW of solar energy projects on military bases globally.
Captain Pierre A. Fuller, commanding officer of NWS Earle, said:
Having access to reliable, sustainable, and renewable sources of energy, like solar power, helps our Navy improve our energy security, operational capability, strategic flexibility and resource availabilities. We are equally pleased this is the largest solar project in the state, to date, and it contributes to New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan.
New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan aims to source 100% of its energy from net zero sources by 2050.