LAKE COUNTY — Officials announced Thursday morning the completion of a 2.2-megawatt solar-electric power system that supplies more than 90 percent of the power needs for three county facilities, making Lake County a statewide renewable energy leader.
“This project is the largest public solar installation in the state of California, third largest in the western U.S.,” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said during the dedication ceremony, held at the National Guard Armory in North Lakeport, overlooking the rolling hills where the arrays were installed last spring and summer.
Combined with an existing 1-megawatt solar power system, the new solar installation provides approximately 94 percent of the three buildings” electricity needs. The arrays were installed 15 acres between four sites ? three in North Lakeport that power the Northwest Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Lake County Jail, and one in Clearlake that powers the Southeast Waste Water Treatment Plant.
“This is the poster child for moving toward green jobs and a renewable energy future,” Congressman Mike Thompson said.
Thompson said the completion of the project came at an opportune time after Congress passed the Stimulus Bill to push renewable energy. He emphasized the need to create more jobs in the renewable energy industry and touted the project as an example of that, and as a means of breaking America”s dependence on foreign oil.
“This project is a symbol of a very hopeful future, one in which we as a people are connected with the cycles of the sun and the landscape, and one in which we basically live on current solar income,” Rushing said.
Lake County Special Districts Director Mark Dellinger said the solar installation is expected to save county taxpayers and ratepayers between $1.6 million and $5 million during the next 20 years, depending on Pacific Gas and Electric rate increases. The two sewer treatment plants serve a combined 25,000 residents, according to Dellinger.
In addition, Lake County is expected to receive $3.2 million in energy rebates, according to Ian Caliendo, government relations spokesman for PG&E.
Lake County hired SunPower, a San Jose solar power system manufacturer, in September 2007 to install the solar arrays.
The installation began in May 2008 and went on line after final testing was completed in mid-December, according to SunPower Project Manager Steve Adelson. SunPower Western Region Director Rick Whisman estimated the installation cost between $10 million and $20 million.
The new solar arrays are expected to avoid more than 131 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions during the next 30 years, the equivalent of removing nearly 11,000 vehicles from the road. The arrays are designed to follow the sun through the sky throughout the day, according to Adelson. He said the arrays are equipped with Global Positioning System devices that tell the arrays when the sun rises at different times of the year.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
