Location: Richmond, CA System Size: 1.0 MW AC CEC Energy Output: 2 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity in the first year Savings: 38% offset of the District's electricity bill Results: CO2 emissions reduced by 937,232 pounds/year (equivalent to 1,103,770 car miles/year) Success Story PDF

	"In our collaboration with EI Solutions, we all kept the goals in mind, and everyone at the table was focused on the financial and environmental outcomes. The process was as innovative as the hardware. It's all win-win." - E.J. Shalaby, General Manager

West County Wastewater District processes about 8 million gallons of water every day for 90,000 users in 17 square miles in the Cities of Richmond and San Pablo, and in Pinole and Contra Costa County. For over 80 years, public health, cost-effectiveness and environmental quality have been its paramount missions. "We are always looking for ways to conserve our natural resources and our ratepayers' sewer use fees," says WCWD Board President Leonard Battaglia.

West County needed a design that would permit dual use of the site for both solar energy and water storage, and provide trouble-free maintenance for its entire life span. The District also needed to take advantage of innovative financing mechanisms for optimal return.

EI Solutions designed a ground-mounted, single-axis tracker system covering about five acres over an existing storm water holding pond, maximizing solar energy production without compromising either function. Financing came in part from a $2.5 million rebate toward the entire cost of the project from Pacific Gas & Electric's Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). The project is being funded and built under a Power Purchase Agreement with a third party, Solar Power Partners, Inc. SPP will own and operate the system while providing WCWD with long-term clean energy at a fixed price.

This new installation delivers a payback from the first day. During year one, output will be about 1 MW of power, offsetting 38% of West County Wastewater District's power needs and eliminating about 1 million pounds of greenhouse gases. This is equivalent to removing 92 automobiles from operation and planting 354 acres of trees.