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Chevron Solar Saves Cities

Solar parking lot at Hanford Library

First appearing in Fresno Business Journal-

Oil company biggie Chevron Corporation is also big in solar and continues to build an impressive portfolio in the Central Valley in saving cities and other public agencies big time on their power bills.Turns out the number two US oil company is also one of the nation’s largest installers of solar energy systems for education and government institutions. Who knew?

This week , the Chevron subsidiary, Chevron Energy Solutions(CEC), is busy pitching the City of Lemoore city council to install solar panels at 8 city well/pump sites that would generate 70% of the electricity consumed at those scattered locations. Adding up the units they require 2.4MW of power, a number that is higher than earlier estimated because of the need to reduce arsenic levels in city water.

City administrative analyst Lauren Apone says although the CEC project will cost the city $9.1 million to be financed over 30 years, the net savings would be $25.1 million in power they don’t have to buy for the city’s Water and Sewer Funds.

Already, the city has used Chevron Energy Solutions to improve energy efficiencies at their big Cinnamon Municipal Complex with solar systems as well as solar panels on the city police department parking building.These units are already generating about 10% more electricity than had been anticipated says a city staff report.The $3.9 million project authorized in 2008 did the following:

• Solar systems on roof of Cinnamon Municipal Complex and a solar parking shade
structure at the Police Department
• Lighting upgrades at 8 facilities
• Major HVAC upgrades at 2 facilities
• Roof replacement of Cinnamon Municipal Complex
• Wastewater circulation system installation
• Weather based irrigation system installation at four parks

In June 2012 the city also agreed to have Chevron replace 1200 street lights in town with LED lights.

CEC is duplicating these energy saving efforts across California. Company projects number in the hundreds.

SF-based CEC has been busy in the Central Valley working recently with 13 Central Valley public agencies on energy saving projects,mostly solar, with a total saving in excess of $60 million,not including this Lemoore deal expected to be approved this week.Here is the customer list and the savings according to CES.

City of Hanford $4.3 million
City of Lemoore Phase 1 $3.9 million
City of Lemoore Phase 2 $0.7 million
City of Delano $3.4 million
City of Dinuba $4.0 million
County of Kings Phase 1 $3.0 million
County of Kings Phase 2 $8.4 million
County of Kings Phase 3 $4.1 million
County of Tulare $7.3 million
Fresno State University $12.0 million
State Center Community College District, Fresno $2.5 million
Lemoore Union High School District $3.0 million
USPS Fresno $1.7 million

A sister company Chevron Technology Ventures, (CTV) , evaluates and demonstrates emerging technologies. In October 2011, CTV launched a unique demonstration project to test the viability of using solar energy to enhance oil production. The Coalinga, California, project uses more than 7,600 mirrors to focus the sun’s energy onto a solar boiler. The steam it generates is injected into oil reservoirs to increase production. The project is the largest of its kind in the world.

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