SSMC’s December 2022 Happy Hour featured Peter Levitt from Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) highlighting PCE’s new Solar + Storage for Public Buildings Program. The program is designed to help public agencies and school districts install solar photovoltaic energy and solar+battery backup systems on public facilities.
Program objectives include:
- reducing customer energy costs;
- insulating against rising PG&E rates;
- helping public agencies achieve their sustainability goals, and
- helping Peninsula Clean Energy meet its goal of creating 20 MW of new power sources in the county by 2025.
The program was created as part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s larger mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout San Mateo County.
Public agencies who participate in the program are not required to provide any capital outlay. A public agency or site host signs a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Peninsula Clean Energy that provides a fixed, economical price for electricity. The addition of battery storage can provide backup power for critical loads during power outages and offset energy use during times of high demand, such as evening hours, when energy rates increase.
Peninsula Clean Energy provides program participants with energy and savings analysis, vendor selection via public solicitation, and project management, coordination and support – at no cost to the site host or owner. The solar or solar+battery backup system is owned, installed, and maintained by Peninsula Clean Energy’s vendor.
PCE is currently identifying potential facilities for its next project cohort, with projected installation in 2024. Public agencies and school districts that are interested in learning more about the program should contact Peter Levitt at Peninsula Clean Energy (programs@pencleanenergy.com) for an initial consultation.