The Largo based solar power company Solar Source has just completed construction on a 1,200 panel solar power system at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, best known as still being the home to 171 detainees picked up in Afghanistan and other places in the war on terrorism. The solar array, which is the first of its scale on the island, is slated to produce clean electricity to power a new fitness center for military personnel.
The opportunity for the Bay area based organization came as the U.S. military ramps up efforts to increase their energy efficiency levels on the military base, and Solar Source’s ace in the hole in winning the contract was their experience with hurricane wind load.
Solar Source Vice President RIck Gilbert admits that when he received a phone call from the military regarding their desires for such a system, he was a bit skeptical. “It sounded a little fishy because you don’t get calls everyday about installing a solar system in Cuba,” he acknowledges.
This article appears in Mar 15-21, 2012.
