San Jose plans first large-scale solar array on city property (CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11821742?nclick_check=1

San Jose began soliciting proposals Monday for 1 to 2 megawatts of solar power at city maintenance yards — the largest such installation on city-owned facilities.

The projects would provide about half of the electricity needed at the Central and Mabury service yards. The request for proposals says a vendor would need to design, build, own and operate the solar installations and then sell the power to the city. That arrangement, known as a power-purchase agreement, is how many companies and governmental entities add solar without having to pay the significant upfront cost required.

According to a statement from the city's environmental services department, there are about 11 megawatts of solar power installed in the city right now in private and public installations. San Jose plans to add 5 more by 2012.

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