Press Release
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Honeywell Completes Stimulus-Backed Solar Project For The City Of
Wilmington
Installation Part of Broader Program that will Reduce Utility Bills and
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 18, 2010 – Honeywell (NYSE:HON) today announced it has
installed the first of two solar photovoltaic arrays for the City of
Wilmington, Del. The work was highlighted during a commemoration event
showcasing successful projects backed by the American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act (ARRA) signed by President Obama in February 2009.
The solar installations, which will consist of almost 3,400 panels, are part of
a broader $14.5-million energy retrofit and renewable energy program that will
decrease utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions tied to city-owned
facilities and infrastructure. The program will help the city meet the
environmental commitments it adopted as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
Climate Protection Agreement. It is also expected to create or sustain more
than 80 jobs; this includes work for several local contractors Honeywell hired
to help complete the upgrades.
The energy improvements will reduce electricity consumption by an estimated
2.8-million kilowatt-hours per year — enough energy to power more than 260
homes annually. The program will also decrease carbon dioxide emissions by
nearly 4.4-million pounds each year. According to figures from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 380
cars from the road.
The city will pay for the entire program from the energy savings the upgrades
produce. Honeywell guarantees approximately $1.14 million in savings per year
under a 20-year performance contract so the work will not increase city
operating budgets or require additional taxpayer dollars. In addition, the
improvements are expected to generate $16 million in savings above the
guaranteed amount over the course of the contract.
Wilmington will use more than $9.5 million from a low-interest ARRA stimulus
loan through the Delaware Division of Public Health's Office of Drinking Water
and an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Department of
Energy to help finance the program at the outset.
“This program enables our city to move forward more rapidly with our
environmental commitments, improve critical infrastructure and create jobs with
no impact on our budget,” said Wilmington Mayor James Baker. “Working with
Honeywell, we were able to extend our stimulus funds and develop a
comprehensive program that will reduce utility bills and carbon emissions, and
benefit residents for years to come.”
The first solar array, one of several additions to the city’s Porter Reservoir
Filtration Plant, is expected to generate 650,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity
annually and cover nearly 25 percent of the load at the plant. Honeywell will
construct a second, roof-mounted array at the Public Works Yard and Municipal
Complex, which will add 300,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. This array
will be financed by a Clean Renewable Energy Bond from the Department of
Treasury.
Along with the solar installations, Honeywell put in a booster pumping station
that increases the available capacity of the Porter Reservoir from 4-million to
30-million gallons. The increased capacity will allow the city to draw from the
reservoir during the day and shift most of its raw water pumping to off-peak
hours when utility rates are low. Honeywell also helped the city negotiate new
rates to drive further savings.
Additional work under the program included converting city traffic lights to
more efficient and luminous light-emitting diode (LED) technology, and
upgrading lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)
controls and equipment in eleven Public Works and Public Safety Department
facilities.
“Maximizing stimulus funding through performance contracts can be a powerful
tool in meeting environmental goals and reducing long-term costs,” said Paul
Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “Honeywell has a long track
record of helping municipalities like Wilmington find the right mix of energy
supply and conservation measures that will not only deliver environmental
benefits, but also improve the bottom line.”
Honeywell expects to complete all the conservation measures this year. The
company and city officials are also planning a second phase of improvements and
are currently developing a renewable energy and bio-solids facility for
Wilmington’s wastewater treatment plant.
Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology
and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products
and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry;
automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris
Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and
Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please
visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part
of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global
leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and
profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable
environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about
Building Solutions: www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address
activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects,
projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions
and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their
perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions,
expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.
The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a
number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our
operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results,
developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such
forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Aaron Parker
Honeywell
763-954-4257
aaron.parker@honeywell.com
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