August 28, 2015 | For Immediate Distribution
MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine Elvert, Utilities Communications Manager
(650) 329-2417, [email protected]
New Large-Scale Solar Plant to Supply Palo Alto with More Renewable Energy
EE Kettleman Land Project will generate enough clean energy to power 6,000 homes.
Palo Alto, CA – August 28, 2015 – Palo Alto, CA --Earlier this month, the City of Palo Alto marked a major
milestone in its long history of environmental sustainability when its first-ever utility-scale solar plant began
commercial operations. Palo Alto has contracted with five large-scale solar projects in California to supply
clean, renewable energy to its public power utility customers. The EE Kettleman Land project, developed by
Clēnera and constructed by Swinerton Builders, is the first of these large-scale projects to begin operating. The
Kettleman plant will generate an output of 20 megawatts (MW) solar electric energy, enough to serve more
than 5% of Palo Alto’s total electric needs each year – or enough to power about 6,000 homes.
The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) includes solar power as a primary resource in its renewable electricity
portfolio. The five new solar power purchase agreements are part of CPAU’s efforts to meet its climate
protection targets and achieve a 100% carbon neutral electric supply. Since 2013, CPAU has delivered 100%
carbon neutral electricity by purchasing energy from renewable sources, combined with renewable energy
certificates to offset "brown" market power purchases.
“We are delighted to partner with the strong team at Clēnera to purchase clean, reliable and economically
viable energy for Palo Alto,” said Valerie Fong, Utilities Director. “With the addition of this large-scale solar
power plant to our energy supply portfolio, Palo Alto is well on its way toward achieving its incredibly
ambitious renewable energy and sustainability goals.”
The City has roughly 125 MW of solar power commitments throughout California, including the five new solar
power projects. One of the projects, Frontier Solar, is another 20 MW plant that is being developed by Clēnera.
By the end of 2016, all five projects should be online. At that point, solar energy will supply about one-third of
Palo Alto’s total electricity needs on an annual basis.
The EE Kettleman Land project, situated on approximately 220 acres of previously disturbed, low-productivity
farmland near Kettleman City in Kings County, will supply Palo Alto with solar energy for 25 years. The plant
features approximately 87,000 solar panels, mounted on single axis trackers, which follow the sun’s movement
to maximize the amount of energy the plant generates.
About the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU): The City of Palo Alto is the only municipality in California
operating a full suite of utility services, including water, wastewater, electric and fiber optics, natural gas,
refuse and storm drain services. CPAU manages a diverse renewable electric supply portfolio, including solar,
hydroelectric, wind and landfill gas-to-energy power resources. For more about CPAU’s solar programs, visit
www.cityofpaloalto.org/solar
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