The Air Force plans to erect a 3-megawatt solar farm on the grounds of the Air Force Academy. The Web site CleanTechnica.com reported Aug. 9 that this new solar energy system will be able to provide power for seven percent of the entire complex. According to the report, the Air Force has contracted with Colorado Springs Utilities to build the $18.3 million solar farm. Funds for the project are coming from the $1.4 billion earmarked for the service in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for installations and infrastructure. The Air Force began operations of a 220 kilowatt solar farm at Hill AFB, Utah, in June, and has the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic system, a 14-megawatt farm, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.