The Southern California Edison plan is our first giant step in reducing solar energy’s costs. It’s important for other utilities in California to follow Edison’s lead.
The unique Edison project plans to fit roof tops with thin-film solar cells. The goal is to place 250 megawatts of photovoltaic panels on 65 million square feet of unused commercial rooftops. The clusters of solar modules would be connected directly to the nearest neighborhood circuit, eliminating the need to build new transmission lines to bring the power to its customers.
“The scale of this project is unprecedented,” said Mike Peevey, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) president. “It clearly illustrates once again Edison’s leadership position in the development of new renewable technology.” Edison officials said the solar project will be built in 50-megawatt phases.
Edison has asked the state regulators for approval to build an array covering 2 square miles of rooftops. This installation would be the nation’s largest solar energy installation by a utility. The goal is to power about 162,000 homes. The arrays will be installed on commercial building throughout Southern California over the next five years at a cost of $875 million.
Edison plans to produce 250 megawatts of electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 1-megawatt power plant running continuously at full capacity can power 788 households a year.
