June 24, 2004

Officials ‘Flip the Switch’ at dedication of Solar Energy Project

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

State and federal officials joined Santa Clara Valley Water District directors at their Almaden campus on Saturday to ‘Flip the Switch’ on a $2.4 million solar energy project. Congressional Representative Zoe Lofgren, California Deputy Secretary of Energy Joe Desmond, and San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce ambassadors attending the dedication applauded this environmentally sensitive, innovative plan which will provide 20 percent of the campus’ energy needs.

The solar arrays, perched atop a water district administration building and carports beside the Alamitos Creek Pond and towering oak trees, resemble the outstretched wings of a bird prepared for flight. The solar panels’ high-efficiency photovoltaic cells will generate 200 kilowatts of power, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 413,000 pounds a year, and save taxpayers $70,000 a year in water district energy costs.

“The solar project was conceived and built as a way to achieve some independence in these times of unreliable and expensive energy,” stated Water District Chairman Joe Judge. “When we can accomplish that in an environmentally responsible manner, and save taxpayers money in the process, it’s a benefit for the entire community.”

“We decided to seek out alternative energy sources when rolling blackouts, higher energy costs and reliability issues threatened our ability to manage your water resources,” stated Water District Director Rosemary Kamel. Although the solar project cost $2.4 million to create, the water district will receive $900,000 in incentive rebates form the California Public Utilities Commission.

“We anticipate this to be a cost savings for taxpayers because it will pay for itself in energy savings,” commented Kamel. “This project is a very visible example of how Santa Clara Valley Water District is working as an environmentally responsible public agency. The way it’s designed, it also provides a filtration system for the parking lot runoff, so that the water going into the Guadalupe River will be filtered and cleaned before it gets there. We are trying to be much more creative in developing projects, while looking for cost savings while doing so. It also serves as an example of what can be done with other companies.”

Also through state grants, the water district is in the process of building a natural gas co-generation facility. When complete, the generator, along with the solar project, will provide one hundred percent of the water district’s energy needs, removing it entirely from the grid. Construction will begin on the 800-kilowatt generator and heat-recovery unit next summer. Together, these projects will save the taxpayers about $240,000 a year in water district energy costs.

“We think it makes a lot of sense as an agency that provides a vital service to the community not to be reliant on the grid during disasters,” contended Water District Director Greg Zlotnick. “That way, our Emergency Operations Center, which is located here, would stay up and running.”

The water district’s effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is the first step by Sustainable Silicon Valley, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-sponsored collaboration of Silicon Valley businesses and public agencies, to achieve a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in Santa Clara County by 2010, which would be the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road. Carbon dioxide contributes to global climate changes, including water shortages and drought.

“The Santa Clara Valley Water District is providing a tremendous example of the type of leadership this state needs, particularly from public agencies, to show what can be done with renewable energy,” commented Joe Desmond, Deputy Secretary of Energy for the California Resources Agency. “I am particularly impressed with the architecture and how it blends in with the design of the buildings, the educational efforts which communicate the benefits of the project, and the use of state rebate programs…and the monies that have been set aside to promote this type of technology.

“The governor is very supportive of renewable energy as part of the state’s overall energy policy,” continued Desmond. “He has called for an acceleration of the state’s commitment to reaching 20 percent of our energy needs through our renewable resources, such as solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal. This is helping us to meet our goal.”

“The Santa Clara Valley Water District is known in Washington as a ‘Can Do’ group,” stated Congressional Representative Lofgren, “and I think the solar facility is just another example of this. If groups around the country were to follow this lead, we would go a long way towards energy independence. I hope this type of innovation and creativity will continue.”

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages wholesale drinking water resources and provides stewardship for the county’s vast watersheds, including a series of reservoirs, more than 800 miles of streams and groundwater basins. The district also promotes flood protection for Santa Clara County’s 1.7 million residents.