Solar Plan Energizes Cathedral City

Nov 22 - Public Record, The

Cathedral City has become the first city in the Coachella Valley to capitalize on a resource that has been available to all the valley cities since, well, eons before they existed as municipalities. On Oct. 11, city officials and representatives of Honeywell announced plans to harness the power of the sun to generate electricity at the Civic Center.

Honeywell will install 1,600 photovoltaic solar panels on the upper level of the Civic Center parking garage, running the length of the deck in two rows and creating a canopy for cars. Generating about 250 kilowatts of power, the canopy is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 514 tons a year the equivalent of removing 103 automobiles from the road.

Councilman Paul Marchand, credited by Mayor George Stettler with leading the charge to pursue solar energy, said two years ago he "saw the opportunity not just to save money, but to enhance the city's image and marketing strategies."

In addition to photovoltaic panels, Honeywell will install energy- efficient lighting and controls throughout city buildings, including fire stations and public works buildings, and convert traffic signals from incandescent lights to LEDs, which use less energy and have a longer life.

The $2.7 million project is funded in part by a $1 million renewable energy rebate from the state of California. The remaining $1.7 million comes from the city's general fund, but will be offset by an estimated 33 percent reduction in the city's annual operating costs.

Bradd Schneider, vice president of global sales for Honeywell Building Solutions, called the partnership with Cathedral City progressive. "One of the opportunities we saw here a year ago was performance contracting," he said.

Honeywell guarantees the installation cost will be recouped by associated energy savings over nine years. When completed, the project is expected to cut the city's electrical energy consumption by 26 percent.

Under the contract, Cathedral City can't lose. Honeywell will annualize the savings and if it falls short will rebate the difference to the city. If the savings exceed 26 percent, Cathedral City is ahead even more than expected. In billions of dollars of projects with guaranteed savings, Honey has only had to pay around 2 percent in shortfalls.

Honeywell is finalizing designs and ordering equipment for the photovoltaic canopy. Fabrication will be done offsite. Installation will begin in January or February and should be completed by the beginning of summer. Work on traffic signals and upgrades should begin in the next few weeks and be completed by the end of the year.

Honeywell and the city also are discussing a "Phase II" project for waste-to-energy, onsite power generation.

Copyright Desert Publication, Inc. and Sharon Apfelbaum Oct 19, 2004