Air Force officials are poised to begin negotiations with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures of San Francisco, a leading global independent solar power producer, on a lease deal to develop the largest crystalline photovoltaic solar project in North America on the grounds of Edwards AFB, Calif. The Air Force Real Property Agency said in a release Tuesday that Kathleen Ferguson, USAF’s installations chief, selected FRV as the offeror of choice with which to enter the negotiations following a competitive evaluation of proposals by a USAF team. Once negotiations are finalized and an enhanced use lease is signed with FRV, development of the 3,288-acre solar farm will commence. According to AFRPA, it will deliver enough energy to power nearly 89,000 homes. “This is a great achievement for the Air Force, renewable energy, energy security, and all of our community and commercial partners,” said Bob Moore, AFRPA director.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.



