Solar Power System

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In October 2012, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works' Waterworks District No. 40, Antelope Valley (District), constructed and installed a $2 million Solar Power System. It is a 350-kilowatt, ground mounted single-axis tracker solar photovoltaic system, expected to produce 760,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. This is equivalent to providing power to 112 single-family California homes each year. The solar photovoltaic panels are installed at a 2.5-acre Waterworks facility on 5th Street West at Avenue K-8 in Lancaster. The panels offset 75 percent of the power consumption of two groundwater wells on that site, pumping about 2,300 acre-feet of water per year, which is equivalent to supplying water to 2,700 homes each year in Lancaster. The project's life expectancy is estimated to be 25 years, and the payback period of the District's share of the project cost is estimated to be 13 years. In addition, the California Solar Initiative Program is expected to reimburse the District $650,000. The project is expected to have a positive environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 536 Metric Tons or 591 Tons, equivalent to 1,182,158 pounds per year.