Caltrans, as the state agency is known, announced September 8 that it had switched on a 9.6-kilowatt solar array at its maintenance facility in Monterey. The array was completed in July and received the final go-ahead from contractors on September 7.
Caltrans' new array was designed and installed by two local companies, Green Earth Engineering Corp. and Earth Electric. Angelo Perez, the former's CEO, noted that his company's Caltrans contract was valuable in more ways than one.
"Every [solar project] bid that is awarded to local business not only supports the local economy but serves to educate and improve the process for everyone involved, including engineers, installers and inspectors," Perez said.
Matthew Welch, Earth Electric's president, is an instructor at San Jose City College. He indicated that his work on Caltrans' solar installation helped his students understand the ins and outs of solar contracting. "My students [benefited] from first-hand knowledge of the solar bid and installation process," Welch said.
As Caltrans' new array demonstrates, solar power can help communities in a myriad of ways.
