June 18, 2003—Officials from Solano County, Calif., have dedicated the county’s newest solar rooftop installation, located atop the Health and Social Services Building in Fairfield. The 230 kW, 18,000-square-foot solar electric system, built by PowerLight Corp., is the first phase of a 350 kW solar power project and provides enough electricity during the day to power more than two hundred homes. It will provide up to 30 percent of the building’s electrical requirements and is estimated to save Solano County more than $800,000 a year. It will also insulate the building—reducing the cost of heating and air conditioning, while extending the life of the roof.
In addition to solar generation, the county’s comprehensive approach to energy management includes expanding the Fairfield campus’ combined heat and power system from 1,450 kW to over 2,500 kW, and upgrading its outdated facilities with state-of-the-art energy efficient buildings with new chillers, lighting, controls, and air distribution systems. With annual electricity and natural gas costs on the order of $1 per square foot, Solano County has one of the most efficient government centers in California.
The project is being funded in part with incentives provided by the California Energy Commission’s Emerging Renewables Program.
