MCE will purchase 100% of the power generated from more than 4,600 panels on 48 hangar rooftops at the San Rafael Airport which will be distributed through PG&Es existing power lines. This project, which produced its first kilowatt-hours of solar power on October 23, is a groundbreaking example of how a local not-for-profit organization, Marin Clean Energy, can work collaboratively with local businesses to promote green energy, green jobs and the local economy.
As a regional and national leader in procuring renewable energy supply for its customers, MCE is the first and currently only operating Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program in California, accelerating the creation of local renewable energy projects with its standard offer contract Feed-In Tariff. MCE has paved the way for other California cities and counties to follow suit.
This is a landmark project for Marin Clean Energy Marin Energy Authority Chairman and San Rafael Council Member, Damon Connolly said. The San Rafael Airport solar installation is the first local project to provide renewable power to Marin Clean Energy customers. This is a strong example of local business and local government working together to strengthen our local economy, generating good jobs and affordable, reliable, renewable power.
As part of a larger effort to implement a series of sustainability practices, San Rafael Airport Manager Bob Herbst notes that the project was the catalyst of a series of sustainability initiatives that we are taking on, including a collaboration with the Dominican University Green MBA students to achieve Green Business Certifications under the Marin County Green Business Program. Weve also just signed a lease with the Agricultural Institute of Marin to manage Marins eight farmers markets on-site at the Airport. The clean power generated at the airport will eliminate 1,138 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 223 cars from the road or planting 29,000 trees.
As a model of business working to create local green jobs, Synapse Electric hired 20 workers specifically for this project through the Marin City Community Development Corporation and CLP Resources, Inc., a trades staffing company. Synapse also hired 3 new locally-based, full-time employees. San Rafael-based company REP Energy designed the installation, and the REC Group manufactured 85% of the solar panels, made with USA content. Power-One supplied all of the inverters, which are American-made.
