Shoreway Environmental Center Switches to Solar Energy

Shoreway Environment Center has completed the installation of 2,700 photovoltaic panels on the roof of its building in San Carlos, Calif. 
 

The solar project, one of the largest in California’s Bay Area, is expected to save about $2.1 million in energy costs over the next 20 years for RethinkWaste, which owns and operates the Shoreway Environmental Center.
 

RethinkWaste says about 45 percent of Shoreway’s transfer station and material recovery facility (MRF) energy needs will be supplied through the solar power system.
 

“This is another significant milestone in our effort to demonstrate every day environmental solutions that also save money for the ratepayers,” Kevin McCarthy, executive director of RethinkWaste, says. “This is also a great example of a public private partnership that truly works.”
 

Fresh Air Energy-II, dba Ecoplexus, performed the solar panel installation in December 2011 through a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) that included financing, owning, operating and maintaining the photovoltaic system. In return, RethinkWaste will host the system and purchase the electric output for a predetermined price for the length of the 20-year contract. 
 

RethinkWaste’s board of directors approved the authorization of entering into the Solar PPA agreement with Ecoplexus in July 2011. 
 

RethinkWaste is a joint powers authority of 12 public agencies in California's San Mateo County. RethinkWaste owns and manages the Shoreway Environmental Center.