LOCAL COLOR/Power to the people
In 2000, California ranked second, behind Texas, in national energy consumption, but only 49th in the amount used per person, according to the Sacramento-based California Energy Commission. Contributing to that statistic is Butte County, location of the nation’s fifth largest solar power system. Dedicated on October 27, the 1.18 megawatt photovoltaic (PV) installation provides the county’s administration and jail facilities with electrical energy and will save Butte an estimated $8.5 million over the next 40 years.
“The system is an excellent way to achieve energy cost savings without the need for extensive maintenance,” says Bill Curry, Butte County general services director. “It produces energy while avoiding the undesirable atmospheric emissions that are caused by coal and natural gas-powered electric plants.” In fact, the county estimates the new system will prevent 1,164 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere, which would require 100 acres of trees to filter.
Butte County began looking for ways to reduce energy use in 1995, Curry says. Early projects included replacing old air conditioners with more efficient models and retrofitting light fixtures. In 2002, urged by Chief Administrative Officer Paul McIntosh, the county searched for new ways to improve its reduction efforts. Initially, the county wanted to include a PV element as only part of its energy-saving plan. Shortly after, county employees learned that the Sewage Commission — Oroville Region (SCOR) had installed a PV system in its facility. After touring the site, impressed county personnel asked SCOR contractor San Rafael, Calif.-based Sun Power & Geothermal Energy (SP&GE), to submit a proposal for county buildings.
After reviewing SP&GE’s plans, Butte leaders needed to find a way to cover the $8.4 million cost. Project funding was found through a rebate from the California Public Utilities Commission/Pacific Gas & Electric that offers monetary incentives to customers to help cover the costs of generating their own energy. The county also secured a $3.2 million loan from the California Energy Commission and a $1 million loan from the Butte County Investment Pool. The expected savings of $317,000 per year from using solar energy will be used to pay off the loans and interest over the next 13 years. “Once it was demonstrated that despite the initial money needed, there would be no net cost to the county and that there would be significant cost savings, the community strongly supported it,” Curry says.
SP&GE began construction in early 2004 after unanimous approval from the board and completed the project within four months. The area encompassing the administration and jail facilities now houses four separate PV frames, containing a total of 6,360 panels. The contractor also installed a new meter that can run both forward and backward. When the sun is shining, the unused energy is sent back to the utility company, and the county is credited.
The recent Butte project brings the county’s total solar power base to almost 4 megawatts. Many homes use PV panels, as well as private sector organizations and government agencies, such as the Oroville Police and Fire Station. With the county eligible for a PG&E rebate once every calendar year, it already has released a Request for Proposals for a 2005 project. All of Butte’s energy reduction contributes to the state goal of 20 percent retail electricity sales from renewable resources by 2010.
“Having lived in New England, the Southeast and Midwest, I have concluded that Californians are especially conscious of their environment,” Curry says. “Past severe air quality problems in California’s larger cities likely contributed to this. However, the residents of Butte County, where the air quality is consistently good, share this concern for the environment.”