OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gila Bend Solar Power Plant, an Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) facility, is now in operation. Black & Veatch provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the plant. Construction was performed by Overland Contracting Inc. (OCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Black & Veatch.
The Gila Bend Plant is the seventh in a series of projects designed to meet renewable energy goals set by APS' AZ Sun program. The 32-megawatt facility harnesses Arizona's vast solar resources to meet the energy needs of 8,000 homes and businesses in the area.
"Black & Veatch is pleased to have provided the full range of EPC services for the Gila Bend Solar Power Plant," said Dean Oskvig, President and CEO, B&V Energy. "Our team brings a range of design, permitting and construction capabilities that enable utilities like APS to invest in sustainable, cost-effective solutions for their customers."
Black & Veatch utilized Lean Construction principles to significantly improve the productivity of tracker and PV module installation. Work tools included waste identification and reduction, and the Opportunity for Improvement (OFI) Program that incentivized the team to provide simple solutions to make work safer and more productive. Construction began in October 2013. The 12-month project brought more than 150 jobs to Arizona.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building Critical Human Infrastructure™ in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2013 were US$3.6 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.