Solar park is promising, but needs close look
Initial talks for a 1.5-megawatt solar
”
Smart Park
”
sound promising, while the community should work with the
developers to make it beneficial for everyone.
Developers for Megawatt Energy have submitted a preliminary
application to build a solar energy facility on three adjoining
parcels
– in order to sell the energy to Pacific Gas
&
amp; Electric
– just outside of the Hollister city limits near Union and
Cienega roads. The 32.1 acres are proposed to have 7,560
photovoltaic solar modules on 252 mechanical supports that track
the sun.
Solar park is promising, but needs close look
Initial talks for a 1.5-megawatt solar “Smart Park” sound promising, while the community should work with the developers to make it beneficial for everyone.
Developers for Megawatt Energy have submitted a preliminary application to build a solar energy facility on three adjoining parcels – in order to sell the energy to Pacific Gas & Electric – just outside of the Hollister city limits near Union and Cienega roads. The 32.1 acres are proposed to have 7,560 photovoltaic solar modules on 252 mechanical supports that track the sun.
As Hollister and San Benito County have learned through the process with Solargen Energy – now called PV2 Energy after an acquisition from a new investment group – this type of alternative energy is here to stay and has potential to help solve the nation’s, and California’s, deep dependence on foreign oil.
But as with the Panoche Valley project, local officials must scrutinize every detail and ensure that the county and city don’t end up with the short end of the stick with the deal – such as with mitigation to the obvious aesthetic change to the physical landscape in that area, or any other infrastructural needs that might arise, especially if the developers continue to expand into other operations on the site as they have suggested.
Though it is very early in the process and a lot would have to be flushed out, another concern that could stump prospects is the city’s long-broached plan to eventually extend Westside Boulevard – because as things stand, it would cut right across that area and make the project all but impossible. Both sides would have to hold serious talks on alternatives to even get the solar park off the ground.
Clearly, there is an abundance of work to be done in the months ahead if the developers and local governments want to make this happen. There is no doubt, however, that such solar parks are sure to start cropping up across the region, state and country – that at some point down the line, we will all become more familiar and more naturally comfortable with these types of operations.
As with the much-larger Panoche Valley project, it also could reflect the wide variety of available options in how we transmit solar power.
Down the road, there probably will be some combination of large- and small-scale facilities, and even if the “Smart Park” happens to fail, it certainly is a good sign that San Benito County is getting experience in the solar game earlier than later.
