City takes a closer look at solar energy

By Kyle Jorreyjorrey@theacorn.com

Solar power was once deemed too costly and inefficient to be a practical source of renewable energy. But thanks to state-of-theart advancements in the field over the past few years, interest in using the sun’s energy has surged.

According to Thousand Oaks Councilmember Jacqui Irwin, the time is right for Thousand Oaks to catch some of the rays.

The city council earlier this month approved a recommendation from Irwin and fellow Councilmember Dennis Gillette to direct staff to start collecting facts on solar energy and begin looking into the possibility of developing a system to be used by the city to help save money on its electric bills.

“The city of Thousand Oaks has always been very forward thinking when it comes to issues dealing with the environment and energy conservation,” Irwin said, “and I think this is an opportunity for the city to stay right on the cutting edge of that.”

Irwin and Gillette learned a great deal about the potential of solar energy while on a May visit to Alameda County, the state’s leading user of solar installations at municipal facilities. The use of solar photovoltaic panels on the rooftop of the Santa Rita Jail and in other locations is expected to save the county $15 million in energy bills over the 25-year life of the program in addition to its positive effects on the environment.

Also on the information-gathering trip was Assistant City Manager Don Nelson, who, like Irwin, said he feels the pursuit of a clean, renewable energy source goes hand in hand with the environmentally sensitive history of the Thousand Oaks City Council.

“We have as a city a remarkable track record over the last 10, 15 years when it comes to the environment,” Nelson said. “We’re always thinking about what we can do to set a positive example not only for our residents, but for other cities.”

This March the city council approved a plan for a cogeneration system to be used at the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWTP). Cogeneration, made possible through the use of methane gas that’s created as a byproduct at the plant, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat.

Nelson said that the current global demand for fossil fuels demonstrates how important it is for communities to start getting serious about finding alternate sources of energy.

“Just look what’s happening now with oil prices. That fact is we have a finite supply of oil and other products we can use to generate electricity,” Nelson said. “The key part of any program— federal, state or local—is to make use of renewable resources to the extent we can. That is the direction council gave us.”

According to Irwin, the first municipal location for installation of solar panels should be the HCWTP, the city’s largest energy drain. Used in conjunction with the cogeneration plan, solar energy might be able to make up the electrical difference, making the plant fully self-sufficient.

Another option that interests city officials is the use of solar panel systems that act as canopies in large, uncovered parking lots. These systems, which are almost invisible from below, rotate throughout the day to follow the sun, maximizing the amount of solar energy that can be collected.

“Then, not only are we creating electricity, but we’re giving community members some shade as well, which is often needed around here,” Irwin said. “And the panels, they are built right into the roofs so they are almost unnoticeable.”

Suggested locations for these energy-wise canopies are the Municipal Service Center and the Thousand Oaks Public Library.

Nelson, asked about the cost to taxpayers, said that after state grants, utility incentive programs and energy savings, the expense will be next to nothing.

“What we’re looking at is a cost-neutral program; that’s what our goal is,” Nelson said. “Then come all of the secondary goals. Once we’re non-dependent on purchased power, we’re no longer subject to rolling blackouts or groundouts because we’re operating on our own dime.”

Irwin said this is one of those rare ideas that can appeal both to the passionate environmentalist and the fiscally conservative taxpayer.

“What makes this thing almost a no-brainer at this point is that it is a cash-flow positive situation,” Irwin said.

“Over the right period of time, the energy savings will pay the cost of the loan not already covered by grants and other financial help,” she said. “This is something I absolutely think everybody in the community can get behind.”