Solar power in Alameda County
Encyclopedia
Solar power in Alameda County was first used in a large scale on the roof of the Santa Rita Jail
, in 2004. At the time it was the largest photovoltaic
(PV) installation in the United States. In all, solar power systems from PowerLight
generate electricity for seven Alameda County facilities, including the Oakland Courthouse and the offices of county emergency services and environmental health services.
When solar power was first considered for the jail in 2000, the economics were poor. Average electricity rates were less than 7 cents per kilowatt-hour, so in the first 500 kW phase of the project, PowerLight also offered energy efficiency
improvements, such as a better water chiller for air-conditioning. The following year brought a summer of rolling blackouts and Enron
market manipulation as California’s energy deregulation crisis hit, and electricity rates nearly doubled. Phase two didn't need any efficiency measures and added another 180 kW, and phase three (completed in 2002) involved an additional 500 kW.
PV panels now generate as much as half of the jail’s peak power on sunny summer afternoons. Throughout the year, solar contributes an
average of 20% of the daytime electricity and 12% overall, since solar panels can not harness any sun after dark.
in 2006, the city of Oakland opened two systems, a 372 kWp system at the Oakland Ice Center, which generates a third of its electricity, and a 760 kWp system on the municipal service center in Coliseum Business Park which generates 82 percent of the building's energy use.
plans to be the first city in the country to allow thousands of residents to obtain solar power without any initial payment. In the plan, property owners pay as much in increased property taxes as they save in energy costs, allowing them to install the panels for free at no cost to the city. Thirty eight projects are being installed for the pilot stage of the program.
Santa Rita Jail
Santa Rita Jail is a county jail located in Dublin, Alameda County, California adjacent to the Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, and operated by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office...
, in 2004. At the time it was the largest photovoltaic
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
(PV) installation in the United States. In all, solar power systems from PowerLight
Powerlight
Powerlight is the twelfth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, produced by the band's leader Maurice White for Kalimba Productions, and released in February 1983. Powerlight has been certified gold for selling over 500, 000 copies in the US...
generate electricity for seven Alameda County facilities, including the Oakland Courthouse and the offices of county emergency services and environmental health services.
Santa Rita Jail
The Santa Rita Jail is one of the largest county jails in the USA. It houses 4,200 inmates and 500 staff near the suburb of Dublin, and its 1.18 MW, 3 acres (12,140.6 m²), installation is one of the largest solar roofs in the United States, and in 2004 when it was installed, was the largest solar photovoltaic installation in the country.When solar power was first considered for the jail in 2000, the economics were poor. Average electricity rates were less than 7 cents per kilowatt-hour, so in the first 500 kW phase of the project, PowerLight also offered energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
improvements, such as a better water chiller for air-conditioning. The following year brought a summer of rolling blackouts and Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
market manipulation as California’s energy deregulation crisis hit, and electricity rates nearly doubled. Phase two didn't need any efficiency measures and added another 180 kW, and phase three (completed in 2002) involved an additional 500 kW.
PV panels now generate as much as half of the jail’s peak power on sunny summer afternoons. Throughout the year, solar contributes an
average of 20% of the daytime electricity and 12% overall, since solar panels can not harness any sun after dark.
Oakland
On Earth DayEarth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
in 2006, the city of Oakland opened two systems, a 372 kWp system at the Oakland Ice Center, which generates a third of its electricity, and a 760 kWp system on the municipal service center in Coliseum Business Park which generates 82 percent of the building's energy use.
Berkeley
Using a 20 year property assessment, BerkeleyBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
plans to be the first city in the country to allow thousands of residents to obtain solar power without any initial payment. In the plan, property owners pay as much in increased property taxes as they save in energy costs, allowing them to install the panels for free at no cost to the city. Thirty eight projects are being installed for the pilot stage of the program.