Cotton Center Solar Plant

In the mid-2000's, the Federal Government began awarding tax credits to energy producers based upon the percentage of renewable energy relative to the company's total supply. These incentives presented vast opportunities to the solar energy production industry. Because the legislation included conditions for a minimum product life of 25 years, energy companies like Arizona Public Service (APS) required corrosion protection up to the challenge. Hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel was able to provide the required durability, even in the extreme heat and acidic soils of Arizona. To comply with the 25-year product-life restriction, other coatings, such as paint or powder coating, would require periodic repair and touch-up, which would erode the bottom line for APS. HDG will provide a minimum of 75 years of maintenance-free service, even in the harshest environments saving money over the life of the project and was also competitive with other coatings in initial cost. Another benefit of HDG is the ability of the galvanizer to customize turnaround times. Providing the support structures for over 75,000 photovoltaic panels involved tens of thousands of individual pieces that required handling, bundling and installation - stages of processing in which damage to other coating methods can occur and cause delays in production. With hot-dip galvanizing, no on-site application or touch-up was required, allowing the fabricator and erector to meet deadlines.