The Air Force plans to erect a 3-megawatt solar farm on the grounds of the Air Force Academy. The Web site CleanTechnica.com reported Aug. 9 that this new solar energy system will be able to provide power for seven percent of the entire complex. According to the report, the Air Force has contracted with Colorado Springs Utilities to build the $18.3 million solar farm. Funds for the project are coming from the $1.4 billion earmarked for the service in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for installations and infrastructure. The Air Force began operations of a 220 kilowatt solar farm at Hill AFB, Utah, in June, and has the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic system, a 14-megawatt farm, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.