Santa Rosa installing solar systems on downtown parking garages

Santa Rosa will spend about $1.4 million to install solar arrays atop four of its downtown parking garages in an effort to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The City Council approved a contract Tuesday with San Jose-based Sprig Electric to design and install canopy-style photovoltaic panels over parking spaces on garage roofs early next year.

The city weighed whether to buy the systems outright or enter into a power-purchase agreement with a separate developer, but concluded that owning the panels outright made more financial sense.

“We are excited to move forward with this project that will produce a clean, sustainable and renewable energy source that will provide energy to light the garages,” said Kim Nadeau, the city’s parking manager.

The city conducted a study in 2014 that concluded it made financial sense to install arrays on five garages. A subsequent study, however, showed the Third Street garage would need costly retrofitting.

That aging structure has also been cited in the past as the site of a possible downtown development.

So the city decided to install the arrays on four garages only. Despite the smaller footprint, the city expects to save $1.4 million in power costs over the ?25-year life of the systems.

The arrays combined will produce 490,000 kilowatt hours of power and will offset all of electricity used to light the structures. The systems are expected to pay for themselves after 11 years, according to the city. The funds are not coming from tax dollars but downtown parking district revenue.

“It’s a great use of space hardly anybody ever sees,” Councilman Chris Coursey said.

Nadeau noted the systems will help the city move closer to achieving its 2020 greenhouse gas emission goals.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 707-521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com.