Well-known clothier Gap Inc. joined this week with local officials in unveiling a one megawatt (MW) solar power system at Gap Inc.’s West Coast distribution center campus. The installation, one of the largest in Northern California, features a ground-mounted solar tracking system on a five-acre site, and is expected to offset 2.5 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent of taking 2,466 vehicles off the road over the life of the project.

“We are very excited this solar power system is now online,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, senior director of strategic planning and environmental affairs for Gap Inc. “We made the commitment to host this solar system nearly 15 months ago and are proud to support the clean energy it generates. Over the past decade, Gap Inc. has sought to find better ways to do business and this solar installation is one such shining example.”

MMA Renewable Ventures, which owns and operates the system, joined with Gap Inc. to develop the project, leveraging tax credits and incentives, to finance the solar power system. This enables Gap Inc. to buy the power generated from the system through a long-term contract known as a power purchase agreement (PPA) – rather than through a major capital investment.