Glimcher Realty Announces Plans for Largest Single Rooftop Solar Energy System in North America

Central Ohio’s Glimcher Realty Trust has announced plans for the largest single-roof top solar system in North America to be built on the roof of Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The 4.8MW solar array will generate enough power to offset 11 percent of the electrical consumption of the mall which features 1.3 million square feet of leasable space. 

“Jersey Gardens is already known as a premier international shopping destination and has been an innovator in sustainability. We are proud to be working alongside Gerding Edlen to create a model for clean and effective energy development and management,” said Marshall Loeb, president and COO, Glimcher Realty Trust.
Glimcher entered into a power purchase agreement with Clean Focus Corp. under which Clean Focus will finance and own the system. All solar renewable energy credits and environmental benefits associated with the system will be owned by Clean Focus. Jersey Gardens will in turn buy the electricity at a predetermined price.

“At 4.8-megawatts on a single rooftop, this is a milestone solar installation made possible with SunPower’s high-efficiency panels and T5 Solar Roof Tile System,” said Tom Leyden, managing director at SunPower Corp (the company that will design, build and install the system). “By hosting this system, Jersey Gardens will reliably maximize its savings on electricity costs over the next 20 years or more.”

From its development, Jersey Gardens has been a leader in sustainability. The mall was built by Glimcher Realty Trust in 1999 on the site of a former landfill. Additionally, the property employs a robust recycling program and recently completed a light retrofitting to replace fluorescent and exterior neon lighting in an effort to manage its environmental footprint.

For more, see the story posted on  GetSolar.com.

Read details of the program in Glimcher’s release.