California Approves $3.2 Billion Solar Program
Landmark Vote Creates Nation’s Largest Solar Roofs Program and Puts California on Pace to Become a World Solar Power Leader
SAN FRANCISCO—[Yesterday], the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the California Solar Initiative (CSI), committing a combined $3.2 billion in incentive funds to drive consumers toward solar power over the next 11 years. The CSI, modeled largely on the Million Solar Roofs bill that ran aground in the state Legislature last year, is designed to provide rebates for homeowners, businesses, farmers and government projects investing in rooftop solar. It aims to install 3,000 MW of solar power regaining California’s position as a world leader in solar energy.
“Its official!” celebrated Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California, a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental advocacy group that has been pushing for a large-scale solar incentive program for several years. “It is about time California got serious about tapping into our abundant, homegrown solar power resources.”
For the full article, go here:
environmentcalifornia.org.
Solar power is just one part of DESC's scope of work. Here's PR from one of their solar projects in California last year.
northernpower.com.
Major Solar Power System to Be Implemented at Timberland's California Distribution Center
Northern Power Systems, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp (Nasdaq: DESC), today announced that it has entered into an agreement to design, engineer and construct a 400 kW solar power system at Timberland's 429,000 square-foot Ontario distribution center in Southern California.
Innovative System to Generate Renewable Energy
The 401.8 kW photovoltaic (PV) system will be installed on a new "TruckPort" steel mounting structure next to Timberland's warehouse, leveraging an unused area of the facility's truck yard by providing shaded parking for employees. A total of 1,960 PV modules will be mounted on the structure in strings of 14 each. The high-efficiency modules and inverters are expected to produce almost 60% of the facility's electrical load.
Also included in the design of the project will be Northern Power's "SmartView" remote monitoring software technology, allowing Timberland to manage and report on the site's power production in real time from any location via the Internet.
Timberland to Reap Additional Benefits
The timing of the system installation is expected to maximize available incentives under California's Self-Generation Incentive Program, offering Timberland a rebate of over $1.5 million. By reliably delivering up to 60% of the facility's energy needs, the new power system is also expected to create a hedge against potential critical peak pricing surcharges of as much as $1 per kilowatt hour, which may be put into effect in California over the next several summers.
Timberland will retain all of the green credits associated with the power generated by the system. These green credits represent the value of the emissions-free generation of the PV system compared to the emissions (CO2, SO2 and NOx, particulate matter and other pollutants) associated with power that would have come from the grid. According to data collected in a study of emissions in California by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the new system will avoid releasing almost 935,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year, or at least 11,690 tons during the system's 25-year lifespan. Data researched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates this to be the equivalent of planting over 78,000 acres of trees (or 3,150 acres per year).
Clients Matched for Success
Northern Power's COO Darren Jamison was enthusiastic about the contract. "This installation will be one of the largest commercial solar projects in California's history. Implementing a system of this scope for a company with such a reputation for social and corporate responsibility is tremendously inspiring for all of us."
Noting that the project would further affirm Timberland's leadership commitment to renewable energy, Betsy Blaisdell, Manager of Environmental Stewardship of Timberland, stated, "The proposed PV system offers a tremendous value, combining a sound business decision with Timberland's ongoing commitment to social responsibility. We examined the proposals of multiple vendors over a period of 18 months, and Northern's creativity in finding a solution that met our economic and environmental objectives, as well as their track record of designing and installing successful renewable power projects, were determining factors in the contract award." Blaisdell added, "The system's alignment with Timberland's core values makes it the natural next step in our exciting evolution."
Northern Power is currently designing and building over 20 MWs of power systems that utilize a broad range of generation technologies, from combustion turbines and reciprocating engines to Stirling engine, solar and wind technologies.
"Given our broad range of solutions, we are well positioned to help the nation's leading 'green' companies meet their greenhouse gas reduction objectives," said Clint "Jito" Coleman, president of Northern Power. "This project also serves to enhance Northern's position as a premier provider of innovative turnkey power systems." |
