Chattanooga, Tenn. –– Signal Energy, LLC, a major design/build general contractor to the North American renewable energy industry, completed construction on a 10.8 MW solar farm, part of a major solar project in New Mexico that includes tracking technology to maximize electricity generated from the sun.  The solar plant was deployed and will be maintained by SunEdison.  Xcel Energy has agreed to purchase the power generated from the solar deployment under a long-term power purchase agreement.

“Signal Energy is proud to be working with SunEdison in bringing clean, renewable energy to Xcel Energy’s New Mexico ratepayers,” said Ben Fisher, president of Signal Energy. “This project is another example of Signal Energy putting our vision of building a clean energy future into action.”

 Signal Energy was responsible for the construction of the 10.8 MW photovoltaic solar farm located at 800 W. Derrick Rd near the Carlsbad regional airport. Signal’s construction of the site included all civil, mechanical and electrical work along with the installation of a single axis tracker system.  The use of tracking technology allows solar modules to follow the course of the sun and increases electricity production.

 The tracking system installed by Signal Energy has the ability to increase electricity production at the solar farm by more than 20 percent. Approximately 840 tracker rows contain 40,000 photovoltaic solar modules; the trackers are supported by over 10,000 steel pile foundations. Array Technologies, Inc out of Albuquerque, New Mexico manufactured the tracking system.

 In 2010 Signal Energy completed work on nine solar energy projects that totaled more than 34 MW. Signal Energy will begin construction on an additional 24 MW of solar in New Mexico later this year. Since 2005, Signal Energy has completed over 35 renewable energy projects ranging from 10 MW to over 120 MW in the United States and Canada. 

 The solar project will help enable Xcel Energy to continue meeting New Mexico’s renewable portfolio standard, which requires that regulated electric utilities meet 15 percent of their electricity needs by 2015, and 20 percent by 2020, through renewable energy sources.

 The U.S. solar energy industry continued its rapid growth through the second quarter of this year, as a result of growing awareness about reliable solar technology, concerns about rising costs of conventional energy, and new state and federal incentives.

 Leading the way was the U.S. solar photovoltaics (PV) market, which installed 314 megawatts in the second quarter, 69 percent more than the same period last year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)’s latest quarterly U.S. Solar Market Insight report.

 About Signal Energy

Signal Energy is a leading full service design/build contractor providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services for renewable energy projects across North America.  Signal Energy is the renewable energy subsidiary of EMJ Corporation, one of the largest general contractors in North America.  For more information, please visit www.signalenergy.com.

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Chattanooga, Tenn. –– Signal Energy, LLC, a major design/build general contractor providing engineering, procurement and construction services to the North American renewable energy industry, has begun installing wind turbines and towers for the 10 machines which will generate 20 MW of power in the Texas panhandle (Frisco Wind Project).  The project is currently owned by wind turbine manufacturer DeWind Co.

“Installing wind turbines and towers marks an exciting point at the Frisco Wind Project site for DeWind and for the region,” said Ben Fischer, president of Signal Energy. “Soon the Texas panhandle will add 20 MW of clean, renewable energy to the grid. Signal Energy is proud to play a role in building our country’s clean energy future.” The company has completed over 35 renewable energy projects in the United States and Canada since its formation in 2005.

Located in Hansford County, Texas, the 20 MW Frisco project is in the Texas panhandle and is scheduled to be in commercial operation by the end of 2011.  It will offset an annual average of 39,726.5 tons of CO2 emissions and provide enough electricity to power almost 6,000 average American households.

The Frisco project utilizes 10 DeWind 2.0 MW D8.2 turbines built at DeWind’s contract assembly plant located in Round Rock, Texas, owned and operated by TECO-Westinghouse. The grid-friendly design of the 2.0 MW DeWind D8.2 uniquely provides grid-support capability to all grid situations.

“The DeWind turbine deliveries to the Frisco site mark the next milestone toward the completion of the wind farm later this year,” noted Robert Rugh, President and CEO of DeWind.

Signal Energy’s scope of work on the Frisco project includes full design and engineering of all project civil infrastructure, underground and overhead collection systems, wind turbine foundations, project substations and the project interconnection facilities.  In addition, Signal Energy will self-perform the wind turbine erection.

Signal Energy currently has renewable energy projects under construction in ten locations in six states.

Wind power is one of the fastest growing forms of new electricity generation in the U.S.

The U.S. wind energy industry saw 35 percent average annual growth over the past five years, accounting for 35 percent of new U.S. power capacity in that period, according to the 2010 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report.

Producing electricity from renewable sources, like wind energy, saves consumers money by avoiding rising fuel costs and price volatility of fossil fuels.

About Signal Energy: Signal Energy is a leading full service design/build contractor providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services for renewable energy projects across North America.  Signal Energy is the renewable energy subsidiary of EMJ Corporation, one of the largest general contractors in North America.  For more information, please visit www.signalenergy.com.

About DeWind Co: DeWind Co designs, produces and sells DeWind series wind energy turbines, including the 2.0 MW D8.2 and D9.2 models available in 50 and 60 Hz configuration, and the 2.0 MW D9.1 model available in 50 Hz configuration.  DeWind 2.0 MW D8 series wind turbines featuring an 80 meter rotor have been operating since 2002.  DeWind’s latest release, the D9 series, features an enhanced 93 meter rotor while maintaining full IEC Class 2A operational capability.  The D9.2 utilizes advance WinDrive(R) hydrodynamic torque converter jointly developed with Voith AG in combination with a fixed speed, high voltage output synchronous AC generator which can be connected directly to the grid without the use of power conversion electronics.  DeWind D9.2 wind turbines are currently assembled at TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company (TWMC) in Round Rock, Texas.  For more information, visit www.dewindco.com

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Chattanooga, Tenn.- Signal Energy, LLC, a major design/build general contractor to the North American renewable energy industry and the design/build contractor for the West Tennessee Solar Farm, has begun construction on the 5 MW West Tennessee Solar Farm in Haywood County. The project will be the largest utility scale solar installation in the state and one of the largest in the Southeast when it is completed.

Chattanooga, Tenn. –– Signal Energy, LLC, a major design/build general contractor providing engineering, procurement and construction services to the North American renewable energy industry, was recently awarded balance of plant contracts for major wind energy projects in Texas County, Oklahoma (Novus I Wind Project) and the Texas panhandle (Frisco Wind Project). Both projects are owned by wind turbine manufacturer, DeWind Co. The Novus Wind Project will be the largest utility-scale wind project in the Oklahoma panhandle when fully completed.   

Signal Energy Recognized for Excellence in Project Safety

Chattanooga, Tenn. –– Signal Energy, LLC, a major design/build general contractor providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction services to the North American renewable energy industry, was recently recognized by Chevron Global Power for exceptional safety performance on its Casper Wind Project in Natrona County, Wyoming.

Signal Energy recently completed the design, engineering and construction of this wind farm with no recordable injuries. It was this exemplary performance and flawless safety record that earned the Signal Energy project team public recognition from Chevron.

Signal Energy attributes this recognition to the company’s strong focus on safety whether the work is self-performed or subcontracted. Each person plays a major role in jobsite safety and contributes a great deal of time and effort toward achieving the significant milestone of a zero-incident project. To show appreciation, Signal Energy is recognizing key stakeholders who made this safety award possible at the American Wind Energy Association’s WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition in Dallas, Texas on May 23-26.

Signal Energy’s behavior-based approach to project safety management focuses on team building to maintain a positive safety culture and has resulted in superior EMR ratings of less than 0.65 over the last five years and TRIR and DART rankings drastically below the national industry average. Signal Energy is proud of these results and will continue striving to achieve zero-incident projects.