California Aims for Million Solar Roofs

California is leading efforts to install solar roofs

Governor Schwarzenegger is a green Republican.  No matter your political leanings, many in California are very proud of his efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming.  Recently, Schwarzenegger gained the appreciation of environmentalists and others concerned about the quality of life in the Golden State and around the world when he announced a plan to reduce emissions to 1990 levels – the equivalent of a 4 ton CO2 emission reduction per person!

This plan compliments the state’s Million Solar Roofs program.  Legislation authorizing the program was finally passed in 2006 after Gov. Schwarzenegger pushed for 2 years to create a plan to make California a leader in solar energy.

Can you imagine a million solar roofs like this one?

Earlier this month, Southern California Edison announced a major step towards accomplishing the goals of California’s Million Solar Roof program.  SCE helped with the installation of nearly 2 square miles of solar panels on the roof of the distribution center at Prologis in Fontana, California.

What does 2 square miles of solar panels look like?  How about over 33,700 solar panels on 600,000 square feet.  It boggles my mind!  This is the largest solar roof installation in the state of California!

This single installation will generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power 1,300 homes – the equivalent of a free-standing solar power facility.  Simply amazing!

The Million Solar Roofs program aims to provide 3,000 MWof energy (the Prologis solar roof will create 9 MW of energy, for perspective).  With this goal, greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by 3 million tons.  What does that equal?  Its like taking a million cars off the road!  Just in California (quick question – would they even notice if that many fewer cars were on the road?)

The Million Solar Roofs program certainly does establish California as a solar energy leader in the U.S.  I’m looking forward to more updates on its progress over the next few years, and hopefully more states will follow suit.

Tags: million solar roofs, solar roofs