The U.S. Navy has committed $100 million in contracts for the development and installation of solar arrays at facilities in five U.S. states for both the Navy and Marine Corps.

The U.S. Armed Forces are not new to the application of greener technology. Recently, the Army has began developing and applying hydrogen fuel cell technology to their vehicles and also has HP developing a "Dick Tracy-like" watch that uses solar panels specifically for the U.S. military. 

The Navy has been using solar power as far back as 2002, when they installed a 750-kilowatt solar system in San Diego, California, which was considered the largest federal solar system. The system could power 935 homes during the day. As early as January of this year, the Navy also applied solar energy five rooftops at the Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii.

Now, the Navy is taking their dedication to renewable energy a step further by spending $100 million on five contracts that will apply solar arrays to facilities in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Arizona for the Navy and the Marine Corps. 

One of the five firms that won contracts for this operation is AECOM Technology Corporation, a global provider of management and technical support services for both government and commercial clients, was selected by the U.S. Navy to fulfill an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, allowing AECOM to develop the solar power systems.

"The U.S. federal government views renewable energy as an important strategic goal to improve environmental performance, reduce energy costs and enhance energy security at multiple levels," said said John M. Dionisio, AECOM president and chief executive officer. "We are proud to be selected by the U.S. Navy for this important assignment."

AECOM will be teaming up with Solar Power Partners (SPP) during this time. The contract has one base year and four option years, and states that AECOM is to provide "engineering, procurement and construction" of the solar systems while SPP is to finance and own the solar arrays. 

The AECOM-SPP teamup is only one of five firms to receive contracts, which are a total of $100 million in value, and the contractors can "compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the contract."