Hearst Castle to install solar canopy in parking lot
California State Parks shows commitment to fighting climate change
—California State Parks recently announced a project to install an 85,000 square foot photovoltaic canopy (solar panel array) over the visitor center’s parking lot, below the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument. This project, which will begin on Tuesday, April 24, represents the department’s commitment to protect the environment and fight climate change.
“The construction of the solar canopy coupled with last year’s installation of 14 electric vehicle charging stations and the recent purchase of three electric vehicles (EV’s) puts San Luis Obispo Coast District in a good position to meet Governor Brown’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said District Superintendent Dan Falat. In 2008, State Parks launched the “Cool Parks” initiative, which seeks to address climate change through mitigation, adaptation, and education.
With no upfront costs to the state, the solar panel system will be connected to the PG&E grid and will reduce the park’s electricity rates from 20 cents per kilowatt-hour in the summer to 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. The solar panels will generate over 1,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough to meet all of the projected power needs of the visitor center, the maintenance yard, the district administrative offices, and park facilities at San Simeon Cove and Hearst Beach. California State Parks, working with the Department of General Services, has funded the equipment purchase through a 25-year power purchase and lease agreement with the contractor, Ecoplexus, Inc.
In 2015, Governor Brown issued an executive order requiring all state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. In 2012, Governor Brown required all state agencies to reduce grid-based energy purchases 20% by 2020 and to include at least 50% zero emissions vehicles or ZEV’s in new vehicle fleet purchases by 2025.
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