Solar power projects debut today in Sacramento, Auburn

Apr 12 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Rick Daysog The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

New solar power projects are transforming a Superfund site in south Sacramento and a wastewater treatment plant in Auburn into sources of green energy.

The Depot Park commercial complex today will unveil its new 15-acre solar array, one of the largest privately owned solar power systems in Sacramento.

The city of Auburn, meanwhile, will hold a public dedication ceremony today for a new solar power system that will handle all the electricity needs of the city's upgraded sewage treatment plant.

"We're turning a brown field into a green field," said John Barney, site manager for the Depot Park complex.

The Depot Park Solar Field lies on a portion of the former Sacramento Army Depot, which was closed in 1995.

The property is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund list because its soil and groundwater are contaminated with cadmium and other toxic metals.

Depot Park's 3-megawatt project will provide about 40 percent of the energy needs for the park's office and industrial tenants. That's roughly the amount of electricity needed to light 3,000 homes.

SPG Solar of Novato installed the project's 12,600 solar panels, which were made by Chint Astronergy of China.

Barney said any excess electricity generated during off-peak hours will be sold to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

For the city of Auburn, solar panels will handle all of the energy needs of its upgraded wastewater treatment plant, which serves more than 5,000 homes.

The 690-kilowatt solar system cost $3.5 million, but none of the expense will be borne by taxpayers or wastewater ratepayers.

Pacific Power Renewables of Auburn owns and operates the system and will sell the electricity that it produces to the city at a 10 percent discount from existing rates.

David Dwelle, Pacific Power's president, said the project will pay for itself in 10 years and provides an option for the city to acquire the system in 2021.

"This is a model project, which demonstrates how clean, renewable solar power can be used to run a large facility like our wastewater treatment plant," said Bernie Schroeder, director of Auburn's public works department.

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Call The Bee's Rick Daysog, (916) 321-1207.