PALMDALE – The city of Palmdale has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its participation in the Agency’s Green Power Partnership, city officials announced Monday.
In addition to using nearly 2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually – enough green power to meet 15 percent of the city’s electricity use – the city of Palmdale is also generating green power from its recently completed on-site renewable energy systems at Palmdale’s Civic Center, DryTown Water Park and Marie Kerr Park.
“The city of Palmdale is committed to providing clean energy while saving money for our taxpayers,” stated Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “Our on-site project and power purchase agreement demonstrate a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives. Combined with what we have been doing in the area of energy conservation, this will help us attain the state mandated greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
“This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” stated Public Works Director Mike Mischel. “By choosing to retain our renewable energy credits with the installation of our solar shade structures, our organization becomes more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the country that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision.”
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, eligible biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
“The EPA is excited to welcome the city of Palmdale as a Green Power Partner and applauds the city’s purchase of on-site green power and its support of the voluntary renewable energy market,” stated Melissa Klein, Communications Director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership. “Palmdale is helping to reduce harmful air pollution and demonstrating that using green power is smart for the environment.”
According to the U.S. EPA, the city of Palmdale’s green power use of nearly 2 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 200 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 100 average American homes annually.
Palmdale has partnered with agencies to offer Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs for both residential and business facilities located in the city. Additionally, the city’s Power Purchase Agreement to provide solar energy to its facilities was named the winner of the American Public Works Association Southern California Chapter Facilities Project of the Year award. The 976 kW system provides energy for two recreation centers, the Palmdale City Library, DryTown Water Park and several other facilities, using approximately 3,200 photovoltaic panels located on shade structures.
“What truly makes our project unique are two key factors,” stated Palmdale Administrative Analyst Benjamin Lucha. “First, the city retained the Renewable Energy Credits, which is not a common practice for such agreements. Also, the city had architectural features added to the system in order for it to match the nearby facilities and to not sacrifice aesthetics for sustainability.”
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[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
