Newsroom Archive

AMP Supports Solar by Soldiers Program with Napoleon Solar Project

Published on: 05/24/2012

NAPOLEON, OH: American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) and AP Alternatives (APA) are utilizing military veterans for construction of the solar generation facility under development in Napoleon, Ohio.

Solar by Soldiers is a program created by Tipping Point Renewable Energy. Tipping Point is hiring American military veterans to work on solar and efficiency projects throughout the country. Under this program two veterans have been hired to work on AMP’s Napoleon solar facility.

APA is the racking manufacturer and installer for the 3.54 MWAC Napoleon facility, which began construction in late March. AMP is working with its member utility Napoleon Light & Power on development of the project. Isofoton is manufacturing the 17,140 panels being installed at the 20.74 acre site.

“We are happy to support the Solar by Soldiers effort at our Napoleon project,” AMP President/CEO Marc Gerken said. “AMP and our member communities are leaders in the deployment of new renewable generation in the region. From building Ohio’s first utility-scale wind farm, to embarking on the largest deployment of new run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation in the country, to this solar generation project, we are supporting renewable generation efforts in a very real manner. Tipping Point’s efforts to provide employment opportunities to American veterans are tremendous and we’re pleased to be a part of it.”

Josh Von Deylen, Sales and Marketing Manager for APA, said “AP Alternatives is proud to support theSolar by Soldiers program. It is a great opportunity for APA to utilize the talent and training of the Ohio soldiers. The soldiers have been trained by Tipping Point Energy to install solar racking. Currently the soldiers are being utilized to install the solar racking and operate heavy equipment on-site. Solar by Soldiers is a program AP Alternatives plans to continue to support on future solar projects.”

Once completed, the facility will be interconnected to the City of Napoleon’s electric system, providing transmission cost savings. The city has contracted for the output of the project, but has agreed to reduce its share to allow other AMP member communities to participate in the project.

View official news release

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    (l to r) AP Alternatives Site Lead Eric Wiemken, former U.S. Army member Justin Harris and current U.S. Army National Guard member Joshua McFadden install panels at AMP’s Napoleon solar facility