Santa Clara, Calif. – November 9, 2005 – Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility, announces a new solar project, which will provide a portion of the solar power supply for Santa Clara Green Power, SVP’s renewable energy program. This new installation coincides with Santa Clara Green Power’s one-year anniversary and will contribute to the clean, pollution-free energy supported by program participants.
Rooftop solar panels, directly connected to the Santa Clara power system, have been installed at STG Machine, an industrial machinery company, by Borrego Solar Systems. The 224 solar panels are manufactured by Sharp and represent Santa Clara’s first business-owned installation supplying Santa Clara Green Power.
Since the program’s launch, Santa Clara Green Power has reached an impressive 4.35% participation rate with more than 2,100 customers enrolled–far exceeding the national average of 1.2%. SVP’s efforts demonstrate to utilities across the country that renewable energy is viable and attractive to consumers.
“There’s no better way to celebrate Santa Clara Green Power’s first anniversary than with the addition of a new solar project right here in Santa Clara,” said Junona Jonas, Utility Director at Silicon Valley Power. “It shows the impact that individuals can have in creating real change in our energy production.”
The new solar system will produce 55,600 kilowatt-hours per year, enough to power nine average Santa Clara homes, and will prevent 55,600 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering into the atmosphere each year–the environmental equivalent of taking about five cars off the road or planting more than 3,700 trees each year.
Through enrollment in Santa Clara Green Power, residents and businesses purchase 100% renewable energy credits from wind and solar energy for their monthly usage for an additional 1.5¢/kWh. A portion of the premium helps to finance new solar installations within the Santa Clara community.
Santa Clara utility customers can enroll in Santa Clara Green Power at www.siliconvalleypower.com; by sending an email with your name, address, account number and phone number to green@siliconvalleypower.com; or by calling
(408) 244-SAVE (7283). |