Chevron, Fresno State partner in solar-power parking project

[jpak]

http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2007/03/solarpower.htm

Construction has begun at California State University, Fresno on a solar panel-topped parking structure system being built by Chevron Energy Solutions, a Chevron (NYSE: CVX) subsidiary, that will be the largest of its kind at any university in the United States.

Photovoltaic panels installed atop 10 metal shelters that will shade more than 700 parking spaces from the San Joaquin Valley sun, will convert the sun’s energy into 1 megawatt of electricity. That’s about 20 percent of the university’s base demand and equivalent to the power needs of 1,000 homes, said Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Fresno State vice president for administration and chief financial officer.
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The $11.9-million project received approval from the California State University Board of Trustees last summer and is scheduled for completion by this fall.

The work will be done in phases to minimize the impact of parking lot closings on students.

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[haele]

1. Naval Air Station North Island (San Diego) has one of those...

About an acre and a half worth of solar panels in the middle of one of the largest parking lots on base near the carrier piers (if you want to see what it looks like on google maps)It's pretty much taken most of the base "off the grid" - there are a few support/hanger facilities that are still hooked up to SDGE, but even the flight line is powered from those panels. Another "green" function is that it cuts down on the reflected heat going up into the atmosphere from the parking lot.
It's also paid for itself over the past 5 years it's been in operation.

It's also great to park under to catch the base buses - that is, if you're handicapped, an officer, or an E-7 and above (those are the majority of the spots under the grid structure); shady in the summer and your vehicle stays drier during the sporadic "monsoon" periods.

Haele

[Captain Angry]

4. I found your solar array...

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=naval+air+station,+san+diego&layer=&sll=32.719855,-117.215195&sspn=0.098496,0.191574&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=32.702251,-117.18834&spn=0.006157,0.011973&t=h&om=1

That's awesome.

[don954]

2. i find it funny that one of the arguments against solar power is all the

real estate needed for the solar cells, like the cells have to have their own land that cant be used for anything else... Look around people! we have million of roads, parking lots, roof tops, etc that can serve for power generation! Plus, all that shade created lowers energy demand!

[jpak]

3. and millions of acres brownfields that can be used...

http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/state_news_detail.cfm/news_id=10372/state=MA

New England's Largest Solar System Opens on a Brownfield Site in Brockton, Mass.

The City of Brockton, Massachusetts, inaugurated the largest solar power plant in New England on October 27 in front of a group of state and local officials. The power plant is rated at 425 kilowatts (kW) and is built on the remediated site of a 19th century gasworks.

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[Zenlitened]

5. FedEx distribution hub in Oakland, CA, too:

About 900 kw. They say it provides 80 percent of peak activity power.



PDF with some background info: http://www.powerlight.com/success/pdf/PowerLight_Case-Study_FedEx.pdf