The City of Brea, which is one of the better-managed cities in Orange County, has announced a unique project. They are partnering with Chevron Energy Solutions to save energy, to the tune of $13 million.
The project entails installation of solar panels at various city properties. Chevron Energy Solutions also designed other upgrades, including street lighting and exterior lighting improvements.
Here is the official press release with all the details:
Chevron Energy Solutions and City of Brea Announce 1.8MW Solar and Energy Efficiency Project
Project Expected to Save Brea $13 Million and Reduce City Energy Use by 40 Percent
BREA, Calif., July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), and the City of Brea announced today the start of construction of an energy efficiency and solar project expected to save the city more than $13 million in net energy savings over the life of the project.
Brea will become the largest municipal producer of solar energy in Orange County once the 1.8MW of solar panels are installed at the Community Center, Civic and Cultural Center and Reservoir City Pump Yard. Chevron Energy Solutions designed the solar systems and will build, install, operate, maintain, measure and guarantee the systems’ performance for the city. The company also designed and will implement a citywide street lighting upgrade and interior and exterior lighting retrofits and improvements to heating, ventilating, air conditioning and energy management controls.
“The City of Brea is proud to work with Chevron Energy Solutions to save taxpayer dollars by reducing our energy use,” said Brea Mayor Ron Garcia. “This project also helps Brea attain early compliance with goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) by reducing our energy use.”
The solar and energy efficiency improvements generate savings to pay for the infrastructure costs and are expected to reduce the city’s energy use by more than 40 percent. By reducing its purchase of utility power, it is anticipated that the city will reduce carbon emissions by more than 86,000 metric tons, equivalent to removing more than 16,000 cars from the road over the life of the project. The solar power at the Reservoir City Pump Yard is also expected to help mitigate future pumping costs to the city.
Additionally, the project helps stimulate the local economy by providing more than 25 local opportunities for employment and more than 125 indirect jobs with an estimated $3 million impact to the local economy.
“We are pleased to work with the City of Brea to help them become the largest municipal producer of solar energy in Orange County and also improve their energy efficiency,” said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. “This project demonstrates how cities and other municipalities can learn from Brea how to reduce their energy costs and use clean, renewable power.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2011. Solar production data and other project data will be available to the community on an informational display at the Community Center and on the city’s website.
The groundbreaking event for this project was held today at the City of Brea’s Civic and Cultural Center. Government, business and community leaders attended the event.
About Chevron Energy Solutions
Chevron Energy Solutions develops and builds sustainable energy projects that increase energy efficiency and renewable power, reduce energy costs, and ensure reliable, high-quality energy for government, education and business facilities. Its parent, Chevron Corporation, is investing across the energy spectrum to develop energy sources for future generations by expanding the capabilities of alternative and renewable energy technologies. Chevron spent approximately $3.2 billion on developing these technologies since 2002, and expects to spend more than $2.7 billion in this area between 2009 and 2011.
About City of Brea
Brea is a thriving city of more than 40,000 residents where art, architecture and amenities intersect in one livable, small city with a friendly neighborhood feel in northern Orange County, California. A diverse business mix of retail, restaurants, technology, finance and manufacturing makes Brea a dynamic place to live, work and play.
Contacts:
Juliet Don, Chevron Energy Solutions, 415.733.4673
Cindie Ryan, City of Brea, 714.990.7673
Chevron corporate greenwashing! Antonia Juhasz, author of “The Tyranny of Oil” and a good friend of my radio, showed that in 06 and 07, the petrol giant’s commitment to alternative and renewable energy resources – including Chevron Energy Solutions projects – was less than 4% of its total capital and exploratory expenditures.
Chevron remains, by in large, committed to destroying our planet:
http://www.tyrannyofoil.org/article.php?id=557
I applaud Brea’s desire to move in a more progressive energy arena, but their partner in this, well…
gabriel,
Baby steps my friend. It would be great to see more cities move in this direction…
Art —
To take a phrase from Van Jones, I believe in ‘radical kernels.’ Does Chevron and it priorities reflect that? I doubt it. With them, we take one baby step forward, and three giant adult steps back. Brea’s greenwashing is Ecuador’s ecocide — all brought to you by the same brazen corporation.
Even so, yes, it is a testament to the backwardness of OC that, with this, Brea is in the vanguard.
Santa Barbara was on to solar energy two years ago…where has Mission
Viejo been….oh yeah, I forgot that Mission Viejo city council and
Edison have quite a friendly relationship. Our council members would
have to stop wearing pants with pockets, as where would they put all
that money (i.e. the money they took from SCE in election to beat
certain council candidates). Sure would hate to see a relationship like that break up :-O!
Hit the citizens with higher electric bills, but make sure Lance,
Trish and J.P. stayed in office at all costs.
Shame on the city for letting this happen…who is watching the
council or do they patrol themselves? We can see from the city of
Bell what happens when a employees are left to patrol themselves .
Zappin Edison,
In the words of the immortal Larry Gilbert, please stay on topic and leave your not-so-thinly-veiled contempt for the Mission Viejo Council where it belongs – on topics that actually involve the Mission Viejo Council.