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West Sacramento U.S.P.S. Processing Facility
Goes Solar & Efficient
As part of its ongoing drive to optimize efficiency and conserve
natural resources, the U.S. Postal
Service (USPS) and Chevron
Energy Solutions have completed major energy efficiency upgrades and one
of the largest federal solar power installations in the nation,
at the USPS's West Sacramento Processing & Distribution Center.
The 573,000-square-foot mail facility is a major Postal Service
hub in Northern California, employing more than 1,200 people and
processing 8 to 10 million pieces of mail daily, around the clock.
Chevron Energy Solutions, a ChevronTexaco subsidiary, developed,
engineered and constructed the project, which included a solar
photovoltaic system mounted on a new parking structure; energy-efficient
lighting systems; heating, cooling and ventilation systems; air
compressors; and energy management controls.
Chevron Energy Solutions develops energy efficiency, conservation
and distributed generation projects for government, education and
other public-sector institutions, as well as for businesses.
The improvements will reduce the facility's annual electricity
purchases by more than $615,000 and its power consumption by more
than 33 percent, or about 5.5 million kilowatt-hours per year.
They also will lower natural gas use by about 43,000 therms per
year. Together these reductions translate to avoided local electric
utility emissions of about 3,900 tons of carbon dioxide annually,
the equivalent of planting 1,100 acres of trees. The project's
completion was celebrated today at an event that was held in the
shade of the solar-paneled parking canopy and attended by USPS
and other government officials.
The 403-kilowatt solar electric system, a product of PowerLight
Corporation, is the largest photovoltaic installation at a USPS
facility. Covering nearly 28,000 square feet, it uses 2,120 solar
panels to convert sunlight into power for the facility while providing
shade and protection for 180 vehicles.
"Energy conservation and the use of renewable energy are
a growing part of USPS operations nationwide," said Ray Levinson,
USPS's interim national environmental program manager. "This
project is an important step towards our goal of operating our
facilities as energy-efficiently as possible. It's also timely,
as October is Federal Energy Awareness Month."
The total cost of the project, $6.3 million, was funded entirely
through energy savings and utility rebate incentives, requiring
no contribution from USPS's capital budget. "This project
clearly demonstrates that a major facility can conserve energy,
reduce energy costs and benefit the environment without having
to divert capital resources from other critical needs," said
Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. "It's a
successful model that works."
The solar portion of the project is on track to receive a $1.6
million rebate from PG&E's self-generation incentive program.
In addition, the Postal Service is on track to receive a PG&E
rebate of up to $300,000 for energy efficiency improvements made
at the facility. "Pacific Gas and Electric Company is proud
to have partnered with the Postal Service on this important project," said
Beverly Alexander, vice president of customer satisfaction at PG&E. "Solar
rebates represent one of the many ways in which PG&E helps
customers meet their energy needs. PG&E has a long-standing
commitment to energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy,
and this project demonstrates how a facility can take advantage
of all of these alternatives."
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