ForeFront Power completed a 1.2-MWdc solar project at the County Operations Center in San Luis Obispo County, California. Developed, owned and operated by ForeFront Power, the project includes a total of 3,294 solar modules ground-mounted on six acres of land behind the County Honor Farm and parallel to California State Highway 1.
The County Operations Center solar project will yield electricity savings for the eight departments benefitting from the project. The county expects that, over the next 20 years, the project will yield an estimated $6 million in net savings, which will reduce its operating expenses.
“This project is a significant step forward to reaching our county goal of procuring 20% of our energy from renewable sources,” said Annie Secrest, energy and water coordinator for San Luis Obispo County. “With this project energized, the county now derives over 12% of its energy from solar power. This helps us mitigate increasing electricity rates and better control our operating expenses.”
The County Operations Center solar project aggregates electric meters from 12 County facilities, including the main and women’s jails, juvenile services center, Honor Farm and other public works, information services and fleet facilities.
“We are pleased to have helped the County of San Luis Obispo reduce electricity costs through on-site solar generation,” said Casey Miller, project manager, project development, at ForeFront Power. “Together with our two previously installed canopy systems, the County Operations Center solar project adds more clean, renewable energy to help the County achieve its long-term energy and climate goals.”
Prior to the County Operations Center, ForeFront Power energized the San Luis Obispo’s first two solar projects in 2020. These two solar canopy systems total 552 kW and are designed to supply over 80% of site electricity needs at the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s Dairy Creek Golf Course and El Chorro Regional Park, and the Department of Social Services.
Across all three of the projects, ForeFront Power used local labor for the vast majority of construction.
