News Blog
County Goes Solar
September 6, 2012
Monterey County expects to cut the annual power costs at its major Salinas industrial complex in half.
A new solar system, which revs up Friday, has the capacity to provide 192,000 kilowatt hours a year, the energy equivalent of about 15,000 gallons of gas.
The panels are projected to save $222,000 over the next five years, and reduce 270,000 pounds of carbon emissions annually, according to county spokesperson Maia Carroll.
The county contracted with Santa Cruz-based Westside Electric on the $1 million project, which was funded with federal stimulus funds. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the county Department of Public Works $2.5 million in grants for six energy efficiency projects, one of which is the new photovoltaic system.
County officials inaugurate the new solar energy system at 2pm on Sept. 7 at the Laurel Yard complex, 855 East Laurel Drive, Salinas.
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