Padre District Adds Solar Power to Preserve
The Padre Dam Municipal Water District, a provider of water, wastewater, recycled water, and recreation services to the eastern suburbs of San Diego, announced on Feb. 25 the activation of an 862-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic solar energy system.
The zero-emission system hosted at Santee Lakes was deployed through a partnership with Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., a leading designer and installer of grid-tied solar electric power systems, and SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy services provider.
The system, hosted by Padre Dam and built by Borrego Solar in less than 100 days, provides 300 shaded parking spaces for RV storage customers at the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. Deployed under a long-term solar power services agreement, SunEdison financed and will maintain the system.
"Our vision is to conserve and protect our natural resources. Santee Lakes is part of that vision. By hosting a solar energy system in the Preserve, Padre Dam is taking another step to protect and improve the local environment," said Allen Carlisle, director of Park and Recreation, Padre Dam Municipal Water District. "Working with Borrego Solar and SunEdison means that our visitors benefit from an innovative system design that provides shade and allows us to budget around our energy costs."
During the first complete year of operation, the system is estimated to produce more than 1.48 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean solar energy and more than 27 million kWh over 20 years, enough energy to power more than 2,500 homes for one year. Over 20 years of production, the zero-emission system will offset more than an estimated 28.2 million lbs. of carbon dioxide that would have been emitted during the production of electricity from fossil fuels.
"The ongoing commitment from forward-thinking organizations like Padre Dam Municipal Water District is vital to secure the accelerated adoption of solar energy," said Aaron Hall, chief executive officer of Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. "We are honored to have been selected by Padre Dam to integrate the system and to work with SunEdison. With the right partners, PV solar energy systems can be deployed quickly. This project is proof."
The solar renewable energy credits (S-RECS) and other environmental attributes generated by this solar facility are owned by a third party, and not by the host, as part of the finance structure for the facility.