San Francisco Goes Solar

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to build the largest solar photovoltaic array in California. With five megawatts of capability spread over 25 000 panels, it will also be the largest municipal solar project in the United States. Larger, non-municipal arrays exist, including a 14-megawatt, 70 000 panel array at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

San Francisco’s system would produce roughly enough energy to power 1 000 households and would bring the city’s total solar capacity to seven megawatts. It will be used to power municipal properties such as schools and government offices. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin this summer and should be completed by 2010.