Alameda County to Commission One Megawatt in New Solar Projects

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand Alameda County’s deployment of solar electric power by 1.11 Megawatts — spearheading the County’s leadership in the use of renewable energy. Alameda County already has the nation’s largest rooftop solar electric system — a 1.18 MW solar array located at the County’s Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California.

With the addition of 1.11 MW of new solar generation spanning six sites throughout the county, Alameda will soon lead the nation’s counties in terms of solar use, generating a total of 2.29 megawatts of power. Thanks to its forward-looking renewable energy initiatives, Alameda County will soon be meeting 6% of its electrical needs in County-owned facilities, with clean, reliable solar power (2.29 MW of solar generation is the equivalent energy to power over 2,200 homes during the day).

"The decision to expand solar electric generation in Alameda County makes sense because the economics have made it such a compelling solution,” said Alameda County supervisor Gail Steele, President of the Board of Supervisors. “The performance of our first major solar project at the Alameda County jail has exceeded expectations. Harnessing the sun’s power to generate clean electricity is a good investment, financially and environmentally.”

“The on-site solar power and energy efficiency solutions that Alameda County has been implementing reflect the future of the energy industry,” noted Alameda County Energy Program Manager Matt Muniz. “With solar electric generation, we are able to reduce our overall energy costs, and reduce our purchases of expensive, peak energy from our local utility. With energy efficiency and demand side management technologies, we are able to reduce costs even further while at the same time revitalizing our facilities.”

Alameda’s County’s new solar projects, approved today by the Board of Supervisors, will consist of systems at these locations: Wiley Manuel Courthouse/Glen Dyer Detention Facility and the County Administration Building in Oakland; Office of Emergency Services Center in Dublin; Fremont Hall of Justice in Fremont; and Winton Avenue Building and the Public Works Building in Hayward.

“We applaud Alameda County’s leadership and vision in implementing smart energy strategies using solar electric power and energy conservation,” noted PowerLight president Dan Shugar. “Alameda County is demonstrating how local governments can improve air quality while saving taxpayers’ dollars.”

Further details about: PowerLight Corporation

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