Expected to Save $15.5 Million and Power One-Third of All City Facilities
The City of Simi Valley celebrated the energization of a city-wide solar program during a ribbon cutting event at the Simi Valley Police Department yesterday. The Police Department is one of five City locations with new rooftop solar, solar ground mount, and solar canopy parking structures that is now generating enough clean, renewable energy to power one-third of all City facilities.
Through a long-term relationship with a Pasadena-based team from OpTerra Energy Services, Simi Valley held the community event to showcase the 2.2MW of solar that was recently completed. Regional leaders from the Ventura County Office of Education and other local elected officials attended in support of the impactful energy project, which is expected to save the City $15.5 million in energy savings over the first 20 years of production.
Energizing Long-Term Success
As a result of Simi Valley’s solar and site modernization plan across five community sites, the City of Simi Valley is set to accomplish the following:
- $15.5MM in expected net savings over the 20-year program life, and $1.3 million per year thereafter
- 2.2 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity at 5 sites, including City Hall, the Police Department, the Public Library, the Senior Center, and the Water Quality Control Plant
- 1/3 of the City’s energy will be supplied by clean, solar generation
- 2,450 metric tons in CO2 emissions eliminated per year, the equivalent of removing 518 cars from the road
- 15 internships created for Simi Valley high school students to give them real-world experience in energy and STEM careers, aligned with the implementation of the solar project
Simi Valley Conserves
In addition to the successful solar implementation project, the partnership between the City of Simi Valley and OpTerra encompasses an energy conservation awareness program called Simi Valley Conserves. Over the course of the solar program development in 2017, Simi Valley Conserves helped build workforce capacity in clean tech and energy by training and hiring 15 Simi Valley Unified School District senior high school students as Energy Ambassadors.
As Mayor Bob Huber shared during the event, “Along with our successful solar program this year, we are also very proud of our high school Energy Ambassadors who helped educate our residents about easy steps we can all take to be more sustainable with our resources – helping to save Simi Valley households financially as well. As a result of Simi Valley Conserves, these hardworking students engaged community members at 80 events and helped organize energy consultations for 280 homes.”
Showcasing Leadership in Ventura County
During Wednesday’s site energization celebration, local elected officials and regional stakeholders commended the City leadership for continuing its track record of ongoing sustainability programs aligned with upgrades to civic spaces.
John Mahoney, President and CEO of OpTerra Energy Services, stated, “Through a successful, united partnership, the City of Simi Valley and OpTerra have achieved a fiscally and environmentally advantageous program that will have long-term positive economic and human impact in the community. OpTerra is proud to recognize Simi Valley’s leadership as a steward of taxpayer dollars in Ventura County, integrating long-term energy savings projects into plans to improve public services, as well as prioritizing the build-out of a successful student internship program tied to the energy work.”
About the City of Simi Valley:
For more information about the City of Simi Valley, visit http://www.simivalley.org/.
About OpTerra Energy Services:
OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that works with education, local government, commercial, industrial, and institutional organizations to implement efficiency and sustainable energy solutions that save money, enhance safety, improve assets, and protect the environment. As a subsidiary of ENGIE, the number one energy efficiency services provider in the world, OpTerra Energy Services provides a unique and extensive set of energy and sustainability management services to thousands of customers across the U.S. The company has provided more than $2 billion in energy savings for its customers over the past 40 years. For more information, please visit www.opterraenergy.com or contact Lani Wild, Communications Manager, at 415-735-9080.
