Big Sun At Fort Knox

You’re looking at the largest photovoltaic solar array at a military installation east of the Mississippi River, which began generating electricity at Fort Knox this summer. Also shown here at the dedication ceremony is Maj. Gen. Jeff Smith, the commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, who says the project demonstrates the U.S. Army’s goals of becoming more self-sufficient in energy production and more environmentally responsible. Ten thousand ground-mounted panels gather energy from the sun on a 10-acre site on Pickett Road. Other existing roof-mounted solar panels throughout the base also produce electricity while lowering the Army’s monthly energy costs. The electricity output from the combined systems will provide about 20 percent of the base’s energy needs on a low-demand day, and about 10 percent on a high-demand day. Vince Heuser, vice president of System Operations for Nolin Rural Electric Co-op, Nolin subcontractor Earthwell Energy Management, and Fort Knox Energy Solutions spent two years designing and installing this innovative system.