Water district installs solar energy system

Cucamonga Valley Water District joined with SolarWorld California to dedicate a new groundmounted solar energy system and Environmental Learning Center on Oct. 11.

The system is designed to augment the energy needs of the district, particularly during peak summer demand periods. The facility will also serve as an on-site example of clean energy production for the students who visit the learning center, which is designed to teach children from grades kindergarten to 12 about their role in preserving the environment.

The solar system was designed in response to the district's visionary approach to satisfy its long-term energy needs, provide a hedge against rising electricity rates and proactively preserve and protect the environment.

"As the leading full-service solar company in California, we were able to provide CVWD with the modules as well as system design and installation," said Raju Yenamandra, SolarWorld sales manager. "As one of the three largest solar companies in the world, CVWD has the longterm reassurance that we will be there to answer their questions today or 25 years from today."

The 274-kilowatt system consists of 1,416 modules and generates 380,000 kilowatt hours annually, or the energy to power 4,453 homes for one day.

The system also eliminates the production of 240 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year or the pollution that an average car emits during 10,132 days. SolarWorld's proprietary paneling process consists of a factoryassembled design which allows for more efficient installation and virtually eliminates packaging.

"The district has been encouraged by the opportunity to partner in the Self-Generation Incentive Program by constructing an environmentally sensitive renewable energy project," said John Vega, water district director of operations. "Employing good resource management practices will ultimately benefit the district by optimizing and reducing the required power load to our 3CII pumping facility by 27 percent." As part of the Self-Gen Program, Southern California Edison defrayed a significanportion of the installation coswith a $720,000 rebate check paid to the water district.

The SolarWorld Group is among the three largest solar power companies in the worldThe group is dedicated exclusively to the core business of solar energy, combining all stages of the solar value chain from the raw material silicon to turn-key solar power plants. The company operates production facilities in Germany, Sweden and the USA.