San Francisco OKs California’s Largest Municipal Solar Project
Mayor Newsom Hails Approval of California’s Largest Solar Photovoltaic Installation at Sunset Reservoir
5 MW Project Will More than Triple San Francisco’s Total Solar Energy Output
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Mayor Gavin Newsom today lauded the Board of
Supervisors’ approval of a five megawatt (MW) solar installation for the
roof of the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco. When completed in 2010, the
project will be California’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) installation
and more than triple San Francisco’s total municipal solar energy output
from 2 MW today to 7 MW. The Board’s approval of a 25-year contract between
the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and San
Francisco-based Recurrent Energy will deliver clean, renewable solar power
for City municipal services and facilities, including public schools, San
Francisco International Airport, SF General Hospital, Muni and more. The
project will also create more than 70 local green jobs, including at least
21 jobs for individuals in the City’s workforce development programs.
“Today San Francisco took another major step towards achieving our
commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and grow our green economy,” said
Mayor Newsom, who sponsored the legislation. “With this single project, we
will more than triple San Francisco’s solar energy production, build
California’s largest photovoltaic system, and help lead the state towards a
future of clean, renewable energy.”
“I’m proud that my district will soon be home to California’s largest solar
PV installation,” said Supervisor Carmen Chu, who co-sponsored the
legislation with Mayor Newsom, and whose district includes the 8-square
block Sunset Reservoir, the City’s largest. “I want to thank the
environmental community, my colleagues on the Board, the SFPUC and
Recurrent Energy for forging this smart public-private partnership that
will rapidly expand our green power resources.”
The agreement between the SFPUC and Recurrent Energy leverages a 30%
federal tax credit available only to the private sector through a “Power
Purchase Agreement” (PPA) to dramatically lower project costs. Over the 25
year life of the contract, the City estimates that the power purchased from
the project will cost $50.3 million, $36 million less than the lifetime
cost of $86.3 million had the City built and financed the system
themselves. Under the agreement, Recurrent Energy also assumes all the risk
of financing, building and operating the project. The SFPUC is only
responsible for purchasing the solar power produced at a competitive rate.
The measure was also co-sponsored by Supervisors Bevan Dufty, Michela
Alioto-Pier, and Eric Mar.
“With this agreement San Francisco can continue to be a leader in
developing the solar energy markets while taking concrete steps towards
meeting our renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals,” said
SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington.
“Recurrent Energy is proud to partner with the City of San Francisco to
create local green jobs now and deliver clean solar public power for the
future,” said Recurrent Energy’s CEO, Arno Harris.
Its being built on top of a water reservoir. so instead of just having a bare concrete surface they’re putting solar panels. so there’s no land wasted
I think this project is awsome, I hope every city do the same thing
greetings from Kansas!
This is totally stupid subsidizing programs like this just drives up the cost of solar, and places that need it don’t install it. They should do this in the desert east of San Diego. Land is cheap, so they could afford to build a much bigger plant. And because there is more sun, the plant will be significantly more productive per square foot.
This is people wanting to feel good about themselves actively hurting the planet.
it sits on top of a reservoir- you cant zone for housing. it’s definitely a step forward no matter how you look at it.
Just an educated guess by someone who lives in the area, but I suspect that the location was selected precisely *because* of the still-insane property costs.
The proposed project is slated for the Sunset Reservoir; it’s an already established expanse of space that they really can’t build upon or do anything else with. It was probably among their lowest cost options for securing a sufficient area up to the task of significant power generation.
Repeat: just my hunch. Having lived in the outer Richmond, comments above regarding fog in western parts of the city are well taken.
Interesting comments. Not living in California I can only comment that at least they are trying….
Who ever said it was funded by tax dollars. Read the article for once.
Half of it is being paid by Federal incentives, as is noted on the Recurrent Energy website.
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