Dec 14 2010
Solar project developer, Recurrent Energy, announced that it has started the commercial operation of the 5 MW solar power system installed on the Sunset Reservoir, in San Francisco.
The company has already entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement with San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Under the agreement, SFPUC is buying the electricity generated by the solar system.
The solar power system comprises 24,000 solar panels, and it increases the total solar power generating capacity of the city by three times. The clean energy generated by the system will be used by the San Francisco municipal services, lightrail, airport, and city buildings. The 5 MW-solar project leveraged 30% federal tax credit, which has been allotted to the private sector, to decrease the cost.
The CEO of Recurrent Energy, Arno Harris, stated that government leadership and sturdy public policy were the main aspects in making the project online.