Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
A new solar utility project will soon begin delivering clean, renewable energy to Palo Alto after it was announced that the Rosamond Central solar project in Kern County completed construction and went into commercial operation.
The Palo Alto Public Utilities Department - CPAU - has contracted through a power purchase agreement with Clearway Energy Group, in partnership with East Bay Community Energy and Clean Power Alliance, to install panels that generate 192 megawatts (MW).
Thus, the Rosamond project will provide the CPAU with 26 MW of solar electricity from 2023.
Rosamond is the sixth large-scale solar project to be put into operation to provide renewable energy to Palo Alto, supplying 44 to 45 percent of the city's total electricity needs each year.
"The City of Palo Alto's Public Utilities department has been delivering 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity to our customers since 2013, and we are proud to do so while maintaining highly competitive rates compared to neighboring companies.
Dean Batchelor, director of public services.
He added that the new power purchase agreement enhances the city's ability to provide clean, renewable energy at an affordable price, "which supports our utility's mission and citywide climate action and sustainability goals.
According to CPAU, the city's electricity supply has been 100 percent carbon neutral since 2013 when it signed long-term contracts for clean energy resources, including solar, wind, hydro and landfill gas generation.
