A just-completed rooftop solar project in San Pedro should generate enough renewable energy to power nearly 5,000 homes, which would make it the most powerful rooftop solar project in the world, city officials said Monday.
“We are putting sustainability at the center of everything we do in Los Angeles — and that means investing boldly to expand the use of local solar and renewable energy,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said of the 16.4- megawatt Westmont Solar Energy Project.
“While Washington buries its head in the sand, we are carrying the fight against climate change forward in our city, and the Westmont Solar Energy Project is strong evidence of our commitment to a sustainable future.”
The project is part of Los Angeles’ Feed-in Tariff program, which allows the owners of large buildings to install rooftop solar panels and sell the power they generate back to the city.
“Our goal is to create a clean energy future for Los Angeles, and solar is a big part of our strategy,” Los Angeles Department of Water and Power General Manager David H. Wright said.
“Along with helping spur the clean energy economy in Los Angeles and meeting renewable energy goals, the expansion of local solar builds more resiliency and reliability into the power grid,” he said. “Local solar systems are like mini power plants that generate power right where it is being used, saving on transmission costs and taking advantage of the city’s abundant sunshine to help meet electrical demand.”
The Westmont project’s 50,000 solar panels cover 50 acres of roof space, ranking second in size only to the solar project at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, though officials said it would surpass Apple in total power generation.
The project was developed by PermaCity Solar with building owner BlackRock and financial partners True Green Capital and GAF.
“The way this project came together — its design, the installation and the financing — satisfies everybody,” said Jonathan Port, CEO of PermaCity Solar. “The workers get high pay, the owner gets a new roof, and the city gets the power. It’s nice when we can make all that happen.”
— City News Service