The one-megawatt solar energy system being created by the San Jose-based solar technology company will be used to power the Yolo County Justice Center in Woodland. It will utilize SunPower's solar panels and its Tracker system that follows the sun's movement throughout the day.
Even more unique about the system is its use of clean renewable energy bonds and qualified energy conservation bonds that were financed by Bank of America through the ARRA of 2009, a first in the industry.
"We believe this is the first solar project to make use of the federal stimulus legislation's clean energy renewable bonds, established last year, and among the first large-scale solar projects to be funded by a California Energy Commission loan.Yolo County is using the federal and state funding to save money, create jobs and produce clean energy for years to come," said Bill Kelly, managing director at SunPower. "
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects the Yolo County solar energy system to offset more than 2.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 5,700 cars from the road over the 30 years that the system will be active.
