LANCASTER – Lancaster has more megawatts of solar generating capacity per capita than any other municipality in the State of California. This according to data compiled from the California Solar Statistics website, operated by Go Solar California – a program administered by the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission.
While San Jose (38 MW) and San Diego (31.3 MW) have more megawatts based on municipal boundaries, they also have much larger populations of just under a million and 1.3 million respectively. Analysis of the ratio of these populations to each city’s solar capacity reveals that San Jose offers 40 watts per capita, while San Diego provides 24 watts per capita. Conversely, with a population of just over 156,000, Lancaster’s per capita solar generating capacity surpasses 132 watts per resident.
“When you consider the sheer size of the larger cities compared to our mid-sized city, the per capita solar generating capacity for Lancaster simply blows the others out of the water,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “What we are able to accomplish as a city, given our size and limited resources, speaks to the heart of who we are as a community.”
Additionally, three of the state’s top five ZIP codes ranked by solar generating capacity reside in Lancaster, and comprise a total of 20.7 megawatts of generating capacity.
The findings were reported this week by Chris Clarke of KCET’s ReWire post.
As noted in the table above, California Solar Statistics also show that the total amount of incentives received from the State of California equals $33,535,356 of new investment within the City of Lancaster.
“The City of Lancaster has made every effort to move effectively and aggressively on the solar energy platform,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “This analysis reaffirms that we are doing things right, while facilitating millions of dollars in positive economic impact.”
(Information via press release from the City of Lancaster.)
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ed says
Net Metering is a concept passed by state law in 1995. What it boils down to is once you install solar panels and they work. You begain to generate energy while the sun is up and store it. As soon as you turn on your lights or electrical utilities you use up that energy. If you have anything left at the end of the day the Electrical Company buys it from you or they charge you for everything over what you produced.
The concept is good but the California Public Commission is involved and it is getting pretty tax technical. So far the $33 million that Lancaster has invested has come from the State. Good start.
S. Parker says
Thank you for breaking it down Ed. These technical things often shoot straight over my head, and the fast talkers at solarcity were not able to convince me that the investment was worth it. Basically I don’t think I will be around long enough to reap a return on that kind of investment in my old home. My electricity bills are pretty low as is anyway. I will leave the solar panels to the young, new homeowners.
FromAV says
I see old paranoid Ace still thinks many posters on here are Rex, and stalking him. Seek help Ace. I’ll bet even Rex is allowed to see his grandchildren. You can’t say that about yourself, can you Ace?
really says
Ie lost track of all the different people he has accused me of being…
sikntired says
Pretty soon it won’t be good for anything else, thousands of welfare recipients with low electric bills.Yeah dawg!