Developer Actus Lend Lease, SolarCity, Tucson Electric Power, National Bank of Arizona and US Bancorp Community Development Corporation are combining to install the solar power system in the Soaring Heights Community on the base.
The system is expected to produce more than 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually—sufficient to provide an estimated 75 percent of the residents’ energy use next year—and could eventually offset 100 percent of Soaring Heights Communities’ electricity use.
  
|
National Bank of Arizona will own the 45,000-panel ground-mounted system, which will account for more than 3.3 megawatts of solar capacity. The balance of the system will consist of 36,000 panels in the rooftop arrays. The rooftop systems are being financed within an existing SolarCity fund, which was financed by US Bancorp Community Development Corporation earlier this year.
The solar systems are being designed and installed by SolarCity and interconnected by TEP. The entire project represents an estimated increase of more than 15 percent over Arizona’s current grid-tied solar capacity. Collectively, the installation should offset more than 570 million pounds of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, which is the equivalent of taking 50,000 cars off the road for a year.
“We are very excited about the Soaring Heights Communities project because it allows us to leverage our background and expertise in renewable energy initiatives as they relate to community development,” said Dale Connor, managing director for Actus Lend Lease. “We look forward to working closely with our partners and the Department of Defense to set a standard for sustainable living here in Arizona and throughout the country.”
SolarCity began installing 1,000 photovoltaic modules earlier this month on previously vacant land near the Soaring Heights Communities. Homes in the community have been selected for solar installations based on their specific location and suitability for solar panels. Most of the homes selected for solar system installations are new dwellings built to the energy efficiency standards of TEP’s Guarantee Home Program, though some are existing homes.
SolarCity, which is headquartered in Foster City, Calif., is outfitting the solar power systems with monitors to measure solar electricity production and the performance of the ground-mounted arrays against the rooftop arrays. The monitors are designed to ensure the system performs as predicted and help track how such arrays might interact with development of the smart grid.
“Soaring Heights Communities is truly a solar city, and our largest installation to date,” said Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity. “We expect this project to be a springboard for additional clean power development in Arizona, one of the best locations for solar in the world.”
Pending sales rise
Properties under contract to be sold have increased most likely due to the first-time home buyer tax credit, according to Long Realty Research Center.
Properties under contract is an indicator of what closings will be 30 to 60 days out. For the past four weeks, 1,317 properties went under contract, an average of 329 per week. That is up more than 14 percent from the 287.7 average homes under contract per week over the last 12 weeks.
A plan to extend the tax credit beyond its planned end date of Nov. 30 is being pursued in the U.S. Senate with the encouragement of President Obama.
CCIM excellence
The Southern Arizona Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) chapter has been recognized as a Chapter of Excellence. The award goes to chapters with the most innovative and outstanding chapter activities programs.
About 6 percent of the nation’s estimated 150,000 commercial real estate agents are CCIMs.
Sales and leases
• C&D Enterprises Three LLC purchased a 3,939 square-foot building at 7845 E. Golf Links Road from E. F. Ross Revocable Trust for $335,000. Gordon Wagner with the Commercial Group of Coldwell Banker Residential represented both parties.
• Big 5 Corp. leased 9,975 square feet at 3800-3936 W. Ina Road in Embassy Plaza Shopping Center from Embassy Plaza LLC. The company plans to open a Big 5 Sporting Goods store by December. Nancy McClure of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord. Charles Ogburn of Ogburn & Associates represented the tenant.
• Arbuckle Coffee Service Inc. leased 7,085 square feet at 5240 S. Bantam Road from Bantam LLC. Bob DeLaney and Buzz Isaacson of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord. Gary Best of Realty Executives Southern Arizona represented the tenant.
• United Fashions of Texas LLC, doing busines as Melrose, signed a lease for 6,720 square feet at 3300 S. Sixth Ave. in Southgate Shopping Center from Tucson Promenade LLC. David Hammack and Brenna Lacey of Volk Company Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord. • Genomics USA Inc. leased 5,000 square feet at 3450 S. Broadmont Drive, Suite 104, from Tin Cup Properties LLC. Genomics USA designs, develops and sells low-cost microarray products. Ron Zimmerman and David Blanchette of Bourn Partners represented both the landlord and the tenant.
• Schletter Inc. leased 5,000 square feet at 2525 N. Jackrabbit Drive from Petty Rentals II LLC. The German-based solar company expanded its Tucson operations in August. Tim Healy of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord.
• Appaloosa in the Woods leased 3,912 square feet of retail space at Plaza Palomino, 2920 N. Swan Road, Suites 120 and 124, from SEC Plaza Palomino LLC and New Rudasill La Cholla LLC. Amanda Signori of Bourn Partners represented the landlord and tenant.
• Wells Fargo Bank leased 3,090 square feet of retail space at 105 S. Houghton Road, Suite 119, in Silverado Plaza from Venture West Real Estate. David Dutson of Bourn Partners represented the landlord and Jayme Fabe and Paul Schloss represented the tenant.
• Northrup Grumman Corporation leased 2,380 square feet at 1835 S. Alvernon Way, Suites 216 and 217, from Presson Midpoint LLC. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord.
• Strongpoint LLC leased 2,100 square feet at 3125-3131 E. Second St. in Miramonte Plaza from Agare LLC. The public relations firm plans to move to the location in December. Brandon Rodgers and Ike Isaacson of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord.
Comments