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Helix Water District Goes Solar

Center for Sustainable Energy California

Installation provides power and shading at operations center

April 19, 2011

The Helix Water District activated a 290- kilowatt solar photovoltaic ( PV) system at their operations center in El Cajon during ceremonies held March 30. The installation was funded in part by a $463,900 rebate check from the California Solar Initiative, presented by Jon Fortune, consulting manager of CCSE’s Energy Advisory Service.

The PV system was incorporated into the roof of a carport-like structure that will provide shade and weather protection for stored equipment as well as infrastructure piping and valves. It will be operated and maintained under a power purchase agreement with Borrego Solar, through which the water district will purchase 454,000 kilowatt-hours per year of clean energy, approximately 90 percent of the energy consumed annually by the operations center. The Helix Water District serves some 50 square miles in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley.

“Clean drinking water is one of our nation’s most important natural resources,” said DeAna Verbeke, President of the Helix Water District board of directors. “By working with the CCSE and Borrego Solar to incorporate solar, we have taken a step forward in combining water conservation with clean energy generation.”

During the planning phase, the district contracted with CCSE's Energy Advisory Service to conduct an independent energy analysis in order to better understand the potential energy and cost savings of a solar power installation at their facility.

“This project is a terrific example of how to specify and procure a solar installation that will reduce energy costs while providing valuable shade to protect district equipment,” Fortune said. “Helix Water District and Borrego Solar have shown how solar projects can be combined with shade structures to make the most of available funding.”

Helix Water District – CCSE’s Jon Fortune (center) presented a California Solar Initiative rebate check to DeAna Verbeke, president of the Helix Water District board of directors, and Ned DeWitt, vice president of sales for Borrego Solar.

Over 20 years of production, the zero-emission system will offset more than an estimated six tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) that would have been emitted during the production of electricity from fossil fuels. This is the equivalent of planting 107 acres of trees or conserving nearly 18,000 barrels of oil.

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