Denver International getting 2 MW solar power

LOS ANGELES, Oct 1 (Reuters) - A 2-megawatt solar power system will be installed at Denver International Airport by next year that will supply half the power needed to run the airport's shuttle between terminals and cut carbon emissions by 5 million pounds a year, two companies behind the venture said.

WorldWater & Solar Technologies will design and install the tracking solar array at the entrance of the main terminal, which will be financed by MMA Renewable Ventures.

The system will have no up-front costs for the city and county of Denver, the operators of the fifth-busiest international airport in the United States. Rather, the airport will have a purchased power agreement with MMA to buy the electricity, the two companies said.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper lauded the system on Monday, saying it is part of the city's "Greenprint Denver," which promotes renewable energy and other sustainable developments.

MMA chief officer Matt Cheney said the system will be "cost-effective from the day it becomes operational" and gives the public-private venture a chance to take advantage of tax incentives for solar power.

WorldWater & Solar Chief Executive Officer Quentin T. Kelly said that the company contracted to install another large solar array in California at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. That system is also 2 megawatts and is expected to cover 40 percent of the airport's power needs once it is installed next year.

WorldWater & Solar is based in Ewing, New Jersey.

MMA Renewable Ventures is a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity MMA.N, which is also called MuniMae. It's Website says it closed $39 million in solar projects in 2006 and has $400 million in the pipeline for solar projects and $900 million of wind and bioenergy projects.

Denver International which opened in 1995 handled 47.3 million passengers in 2006, the 10th busiest airport on the world.