Big solar energy project planned for 10 Oakland rooftops

by Darwin BondGraham in Oaklandside

Dec. 3, 2024, 9:08 a.m.

Solar panels could soon cover the tops of 10 publicly owned buildings in East Oakland, West Oakland, and downtown, generating up to 1.6 megawatts of electricity for the city under a plan the City Council is considering. A megawatt is roughly enough electricity to power 1,000 homes, but this energy will be generated and used by the city.

The renewable energy project would be spearheaded by Ava Community Energy, the public power authority that purchases energy and delivers it to customers through PG&E’s grid. Green Bridge Energy and Gridscape Solutions would install the solar panels and batteries for Ava.

The $14 million project will be built at no cost to the city and Oakland expects to save money on its energy bills by purchasing power from the project. The city of Oakland will be able to “lock in a lower 2.5% annual cost of electricity increase for energy generated by the projects, compared to the more expensive 4.5% historical inflation rate on electricity costs,” according to a city report.

In addition to providing electricity for the city’s buildings, electric vehicles, and other public infrastructure, the project could also be helpful in case of an emergency.

“These locations are considered resilience centers,” said City Councilmember Dan Kalb. “Most of these buildings can be used in emergencies in case there’s an earthquake and people need somewhere to go to take shelter or gather. Some will have more than just solar storage, there could be supplies stored there.”

A member of Ava Community Energy’s board and longtime proponent of renewables, Kalb said he’s pleased by how the city’s sustainability staff and Ava worked together to come up with the rooftop solar project.

Similar projects are being built or are under consideration in other Alameda County cities where Ava provides electricity, including Berkeley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, and San Leandro.

If the plan is approved by the council, solar panels and battery storage would be installed at the Oakland Ice Center, Oakland Municipal Services Center, East Oakland Sports Center, Oakland Public Library 81st Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library Main, and Oakland Fire Stations 1, 3, 17, 15, and 20. The batteries would be able to store up to 3,096 kilowatt hours of electricity.

The City Council is expected to approve the plan at its Dec. 3 meeting.