March 27, 2008

SCE To Install Solar Panels On 2 Sq Miles Of California Roofs

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Southern California Edison will install 250 megawatts of solar panels on 65 million square feet of roofs – that’s two square miles – of Southern California commercial buildings at a cost of $875 million. That project will be the nation’s largest solar cell installation. Enough solar to power 162,000 homes.

Here’s the plan. In the initial phase of the program, the utility will lease 607,000 square feet of roof space at ProLogis’ Kaiser Distribution Park in Fontana, California. The area will be used to install and maintain solar panels with the potential to generate enough electricity to power 1,426 households for one year.

At the conclusion of the start-up phase, which will include five to 10 additional installations and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008, the utility will launch its full renewable energy project, aiming to complete 50 megawatts of solar panel installations each year for a total of 250 MW. Each individual installation is expected to comprise one to two megawatts.

“I urge others to follow in their footsteps,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “If commercial buildings statewide partnered with utilities to put this solar technology on their rooftops, it would set off a huge wave of renewable energy growth.”

SCE hopes to have the first solar rooftops in service by August. The company says it will install at the rate of one megawatt a week.

The program would give a big boost to California’s Million Solar Roofs program and help SCE meet a state requirement to get 20 percent of its energy from renewables by 2010..

Yesterday, EL reported that solar companies are becoming financial intermediaries, leading companies to install solar power that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

Thats awesome.. Exactly what we need to. Found some more info here too.
http://greenited.com/blog/

Get EL Daily in your inbox, subscribe to free newsletter

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

  • 11/24/2009
  • 11/23/2009
  • 11/20/2009

Recent Jobs

Post a Job
Jobs powered by Simply Hired

Comments and Discussions

Btok on Canada Delays GHG Emissions Regs, Russia Ups Emissions Cuts
"http://www.infowars.com/dr-tim -ball-on-the-significance-o..."

ruffie on Wind Power Investments Grow in North America
"Anyone with any knowledge of the energy business in Canada knows that the majority of smart..."

Rod Johnson on Stimulus Package Delivers $2.4 Billion for Electric Vehicle Projects
"Will this stimulus be extended to other electric utility vehicles?"

James Beddingfield on Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests
"Another great thing about an ocean-based carbon sink is that it can’t..."

Custom Organic Shirts on Climate Scientists Alleged to Have Manipulated Data
"Wow, EL – should have seriously done even some background research..."

Phil on Climate Scientists Alleged to Have Manipulated Data
"Pete old boy, why don’t you just trot out the math that carries you from your..."