HUGE SOLAR PLANT: FIRST AID FOR LOCAL ENERGY

There is a subtext to this impressive example of corporate conscientiousness. California’s AB 32 commits the state to reduce its emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently established numerical values for those levels and will begin requiring businesses to report their emissions beginning in 2009 as preparation for setting caps. So Alza is getting ahead of the curve. When allocations are made, it will have emissions credits to sell.

ALZA earns its place in the sun
Jennifer Gentile, December 6, 2007 (Vacaville Reporter)

WHO
Dedication-attendees Dan Pellissier (California Assistant Secretary for Energy Policy, representing Governor Arnold Schwartenegger), Lois Wolk (Eighth District Assemblywoman), Len Augustine (Vacaville Mayor);
ALZA Corporation, an R&D facility for the Johnson & Johnson Companies (Henry Esparza, GM); SPG Solar Inc.

An aerial view of the Vacaville Alza Corp solar installation. (photo courtesy of SPG Solar. click to enlarge)

WHAT
Alza Corporation’s 1-megawatt $9 million solar installation, nicknamed SPF-1000, will provide 1/3 of the facility’s power during peak sun hours. The system was built by SPG Solar.

WHEN
The installation was dedicated December 5.

WHERE
- Vacaville, in north central California, between San Francisco and Sacramento.
- SPG Solar is based in Novato, Ca.
- SPF-1000 has a sun-tracking mechanism to maximize its solar absorption by orienting the solar panels to the sun as it moves east to west thru the day.

WHY
- SPF-1000, at 1 megawatt, is the largest privately owned commercial-scale solar installation in California. It has 5700 solar panels and occupies 6.5 acres.
- Though not tied into the grid, the system will relieve local utility demand by feeding Alza the most power during high consumer demand, brown out-likely peak sun hours.
- Johnson & Johnson has installed other solar systems but none this big. This installation brings its corporate solar capacity to 3.5 megawatts.
- SPF-1000 will provide power equivalent to that used by 250 homes in a day and cut 700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
- The installation earned Alza Corporation $3 million as part of regional utility PG&E’s Self Generation Incentive Program.
- As part of its environmental consciousness program, Alza has also installed a waste water treatment system.

Another view of the 1-megawatt sun-tracking solar installation. (photo courtesy of SPG Solar. click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Esparza, Alza: “ALZA remains steadfast in our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility…We are excited to show off just what this solar field can do and the benefits it will yield for the Vacaville community.”
- Governor Arnold Schwartenegger, via letter: "California is proud to be the home of your amazing project…[It is] an example of economic prosperity and environmental responsibility going hand in hand."
- Assemblywoman Wolk: "I am proud to represent this company and this community that has moved this notion forward…"
- Mayor Augustine: "This project really represents a ... commitment to the city…and we're glad to see that."