GridPoint Renewable Energy Solution Selected for 15 Texas Parks and Wildlife Facilities

ARLINGTON, Va., May, 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GridPoint, Inc., an established leader for smart energy solutions, announces today it has been selected to design, engineer and install 15 solar arrays for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).  The arrays, totaling 436 kW, will be distributed across the state at various TPWD state parks, fish hatcheries and other sites. Installation is scheduled to begin later this month with an estimated completion date of August 2011.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110208/MM44945LOGO)

"TPWD is pleased to work with GridPoint as we strive to meet the key objectives for sustainable conservation outlined in the 2010 Land and Water Plan," states Rich McMonagle, TPWD infrastructure division director.  "GridPoint's solar solution helps us to support conservation actions that mitigate anticipated climate change impacts to plants, fish and wildlife and encourage the development of renewable energy projects which do not adversely affect those communities."

In 2010, TPWD updated the 2005 Land and Water Resources Conservation Plan with the goal of guiding the agency in conserving the state's natural and historic heritage and in providing public access to the outdoors. Later that year, TPWD was awarded a competitive federal stimulus grant for solar installations as part of the Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program.  TPWD is installing solar photovoltaic (PV) generation systems at its main headquarters in Austin and high-visibility state park, fish hatchery and wildlife management area locations throughout Texas, including:

• State Parks: Lake Tawakoni State Park, Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Cooper Lake State Park, Cedar Hill State Park, Lake Arrowhead State Park, San Angelo State Park, Davis Mountain State Park, Choke Canyon State Park, Mustang Island State Park, Government Canyon State Park and McKinney Falls State Park
• Fish hatcheries and WMAs: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery, A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery, and Kerr Wildlife Management Area

"Partnering with TPWD allows GridPoint to assist this visionary public department in its commitment to the environment," said Jeff Ross, senior vice president of GridPoint. "The installation of solar arrays encourages science-based solutions for natural resource conservation across Texas and is a prime example for parks and wildlife organizations nationally."

The solar energy systems will also feature an intelligent monitoring solution to record, and in some cases display for visitors, the current and historical energy production. This information allows TPWD to closely monitor system performance through a Web interface.

About GridPoint

GridPoint provides key stakeholders in the energy ecosystem with the visibility, analysis and control to more efficiently consume, generate and distribute energy.  GridPoint's smart energy solutions combine software, hardware and services to integrate, aggregate and manage distributed sources of energy consumption, generation and storage.  An enterprise-class software platform provides a shared foundation for products, creating a common point of integration, asset provisioning and real-time management.  GridPoint customers include Fortune 100 retail and restaurant chains, leading North American utilities, government and municipalities.  For more information, please visit www.gridpoint.com.

About Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is committed to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

In fulfilling its mission, the Department offers a host of programs and services aimed at ensuring the state's lands, waters, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources are well managed and conserved for future generations. These efforts are carried out on private and public lands and waters around the state, including on over 90 state parks, 50 wildlife management areas, and eight fish hatcheries. In addition, state biologists offer technical assistance and formal management plans to private landowners, who own and manage approximately 95% of the state's lands.

The agency's multi-faceted conservation, regulatory, technical, recreation, and law enforcement programs are administered through 11 internal divisions: Wildlife, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Law Enforcement, Legal, State Parks, Infrastructure, Communications, Administrative Resources, Human Resources and Information Technology. Intergovernmental affairs, internal investigations are administered through the Executive Office.

Media Contact:  

Kelley Wright, GridPoint
713-269-4043 or [email protected]

SOURCE GridPoint, Inc.