College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2017
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Philip Barlow, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
The well-being of the environment in the United States is becoming dependent on a change from unreliable and scarce resources such as coal as a means to generate electricity to a more eco-friendly and abundant source. Solar farms provide the opportunity to generate electricity with no effect on global warming, no environmentally hazardous emissions, and are not affected by the fluctuating costs of fuel. One construction company in particular has noticed this as not only a terrific opportunity to improve the nations’ environmental footprint, but also as a tremendous business opportunity; Swinerton. Swinerton recently developed a renewable energy division that focuses on the creation and maintenance of solar farms. The division, now known as Swinerton Renewable Energy, was created in 2010 and has since then built themselves into the number 1 solar energy contractor in the entire world. This case study will examine one of their first solar farm projects, a 9.4MW site in Sacramento County, CA. Furthermore, this paper will examine the current industry trends, the project specifics, the challenges encountered, the benefits of this project, and the lessons learned to be applied to the industry.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/67