East Portland Community Center solar energy system makes a big splash.
Full Press Release, July, 30, 2009
Seminar Featuring Sandra Walden, CSV Co. Founder and Director.Waves of the water variety are made every day of the week at East Portland Community Center. Now the city’s new natatorium is making waves of a different sort with its solar energy system. The system is set to start generating electricity in August 2009, and is the only natatorium in the country to earn LEED® Platinum status — the highest level recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project was made possible by an innovative public/private financial arrangement referred to as a third-party ownership model.
The 86-kilowatt solar electric system covers the roof over the pool on the south side of the building. It is expected to generate approximately 90,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean renewable electricity every year. Over the next 20 years, the resulting carbon dioxide reduction is equivalent to more than 2,000,000 miles not driven. The natatorium also features a solar water heating system to preheat water for the swim area’s showers. This 240-square-foot system will save the city about 580 therms of natural gas each year.
“Portland has become both nationally and internationally recognized for our sustainable building practices, but with this pool we have established a new benchmark,” said Zari Santner, director, Portland Parks & Recreation. EPCC was designed by SERA Architects, Portland, and is the first aquatics facility in the nation to achieve LEED Platinum certification. “We’re proud to be able to offer east Portland residents an activity that is not only healthy and sustainable for them, but for our environment, as well.”
Third-party financing, tax credits and incentives make it possible
The public/private, third-party financing arrangement is a collaboration between Sentry Financial Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, and BEF Renewable, Inc., and Commercial Solar Ventures, Portland, Ore.
The city of Portland will not own the solar system, but instead is leasing the EPCC’s roof space to an entity formed and jointly owned by BEF Renewable, Inc., and an investor represented by Sentry Financial. The city will purchase the electricity generated by the system. After about seven years when the investors have utilized the tax benefits and incentives that come with owning a solar energy system, the city of Portland may purchase the system at its then fair market value, a figure that will be substantially less than what the city would have paid if it had purchased the system upfront.
The project was made possible by an incentive of $150,500 for the solar electric system and $3,534 for the solar water heating system from Energy Trust of Oregon and a $100,000 grant from Portland General Electric. The total cost for the solar electric and solar water heating systems was $844,860. The solar electric system was engineered, designed and installed by E C Company, Portland. The solar water heating system was designed and installed by GenCon.
The public/private, third-party financing arrangement is collaboration between Sentry Financial Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, and BEF Renewable, Inc., and Commercial Solar Ventures, Portland, Ore. “EPCC is the first of several projects planned in Oregon by our team. Through this process, we’ve developed tools and experience that will help us aid other government entities who want to pursue solar projects that take advantage of incentives and tax benefits that wouldn’t typically be available to them,” said Sandra Walden, partner and founding member, Commercial Solar Ventures.
“Getting solar on the EPCC natatorium will reduce the building’s energy bills and help the city of Portland achieve LEED Platinum certification for this innovative achievement. It is exactly the kind of opportunity BEF had in mind when we founded BEF Renewable, Inc., as a for-profit subsidiary to bring public and private interests together to realize new, substantial renewable energy projects,” said Margie Gardner, chief executive officer, Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
“Energy Trust has provided or will provide funding for 30 solar installations with a third-party financing model that have a combined capacity of 3.9 megawatts. Nonprofit or government facilities with rooftop real estate can benefit from clean energy, and investors can earn a tangible return for supporting solar,” said Kacia Brockman, senior solar program manager, Energy Trust.
“The East Portland Community Center is one of the crown jewels in the Portland Park Bureau and a showcase of energy efficiency and renewable power generation,” said Thor Hinckley, manager, PGE renewable power program. “PGE is proud to support the nation’s first public swim center that has achieved the highest certification of the green building rating system.” PGE provided funding through the Clean WindSM program.
Solar in Portland supports local, statewide goals
Solar energy is a growing industry and priority for Oregon and for Portland. On a statewide level, Governor Ted Kulongoski has made building a clean energy economy a centerpiece of his agenda. Today, solar energy is directly responsible for about 2,500 jobs in Oregon from solar equipment manufacturers, installers and support industries
Since 2003, Oregon homes and businesses have installed more than 12 megawatts of solar electric generation across the state. Oregon has been a leader in supporting third-party ownership models.
Checking out the inverters!Members from Commercial Solar Ventures, EC Company, Sentry Financial, Energy Trust of Oregon and PGE
Sandra Walden will be speaking at the fifth Annual Conference on Renewable Energy in the Pacific Northwest. This seminar is a comprehensive update on current law, policy and economics, featuring Special Address by The Hon. Jay Inslee.
August 6 & 7, 2009. Westin Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WAInfo at Lawseminars.com
RES / Island Pacific Energy bring Photovoltaic systems to cell towers in HawaiiRecent Press Releases from Island Pacific Energy.
Commercial Solar Ventures takes a visit to the sourceAbout Island Pacific Energy
Island Pacific Energy is the largest developer/owner/operator of photovoltaic solar energy facilities in the State of Hawai‘i. Island Pacific Energy is the winner of the Governor’s Innovation Award highlighting the commitment to finding creative ways to make life better for the people of Hawai‘i and build a stronger future for the state. For more information, please visit http://www.islandpacificenergy.com.
Photovoltaic systems power cell tower sites on The Big Island
June 1, 2009, Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Island Pacific Energy, LLC announced today the completion of a 3,360 watt photovoltaic system for Verizon Wireless. The installation, on the roof of a cell tower site on Oahu, provides power to charge the facility’s batteries as well as power the site’s electronics.
The 3,360 watt system is the first of a series of systems that Island Pacific Energy will install for Verizon Wireless across Hawai‘i under contract thru Real Energy Solutions, the renewable energy arm of RealCom Associates.
“We are looking forward to working with Real Energy Solutions to install solar power at additional Verizon Wireless locations.” states Joseph Saturnia, President of Island Pacific Energy. “Every site that installs solar power contributes to a more sustainable Hawai‘i.”
June 17, 2009, Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Island Pacific Energy, LLC announced today the completion of a 3,780 watt photovoltaic system for Verizon Wireless. The installation, on the roof of a cell tower site on the Big Island, provides power to charge the facility’s batteries as well as power the site’s electronics.
The 3,780 watt system is the second of a series of systems that Island Pacific Energy will install for Verizon Wireless across Hawai‘i under contract thru Real Energy Solutions, the renewable energy arm of RealCom Associates.
“We continue our excellent relationship with Real Energy Solutions in our installation of solar power at this Verizon Wireless location.” states Joseph Saturnia, President of Island Pacific Energy. “We look forward to continued progress towards sustainability for both Verizon Wireless and Hawai‘i.”
July 1, 2009, Honolulu, Hawaii – Island Pacific Energy, LLC announced today the completion of a 5,040 watt photovoltaic system for Verizon Wireless. The installation, on the roof of a cell tower site on the Big Island, provides power to charge the facility’s batteries as well as power the site’s electronics.
The 5,040 watt system is the third of a series of systems that Island Pacific Energy will install for Verizon Wireless across Hawai‘i under contract thru Real Energy Solutions, the renewable energy arm of RealCom Associates.
“We are excited about the success of these installations and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Real Energy Solutions and Verizon Wireless locations.” states Joseph Saturnia, President of Island Pacific Energy.
For more information, please contact Rachel Sokugawa, Director of Public Relations for Island Pacific Energy:
rachel.sokugawa@islandpacificenergy.com or (808) 377-6406.In May 2009 CSV employees were joined by local green contractors, construction workers, a telecommunications representative, a new development real estate broker, and more for a inside look at Solar World, the largest solar manufacturing site in North America.
The CSV Team At SolarWorld
Ecotrust Walks the Talk.
Full Press ReleaseSeven years after reopening, landmark building gets connected to the sunBy Dieter Loibner
Ever since the restored Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center (aka Ecotrust building) in the Pearl reopened to the public in 2001, it’s been synonymous for Portland’s emergence as eco-capital USA. And why not? Energy efficient and eco-friendly, built from recycled materials, equipped with bike racks, bioswales and an eco-roof, this 1895-warehouse set standards for green building design in the 21st century.
However, among all the progressive features one was conspicuously absent: Renewable energy generation on site. Well, no more. Now the storied building on NW 9th and Johnson produces its own electric power from clean, quiet and abundant sunlight through a sizeable photovoltaic system that is taking up all the roof space as if to put an exclamation mark behind the building’s sustainability message.
“The building has been a symbol for sound ecology and profitable economy and this [project] fits right in,” says Adam Lane, Chief Financial and Operating Officer of the Ecotrust. “It’s a tangible on-the-ground example for what we believe in, so this is intended to send a positive signal.”
As a nonprofit, Ecotrust is not eligible for the tax incentives, Lane explains, unlike the investor, Walsh Construction Co., which is the same contractor that handled the building’s original renovation. The PV system cost approximately $ 370,000 including finance charges and was jointly funded by Walsh and Ecotrust. Under this arrangement, Walsh ponied up 95 percent and gets the lion share of the benefits. After five and a half years, ownership flips and Ecotrust can buy out the remainder of the shares at fair market value.
“There are multiple benefits to us,” explains John Wied, Walsh’s CFO, citing the Federal Investment Tax Credit, accelerated depreciation of the unit, the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) and the incentives from the Energy Trust. “The return of most of our investment happens in the first 12 months, and the rest in the following five years.” Wied says that a commitment to sustainability and the association with the Ecotrust project motivated Walsh Construction Co. to install a 29-kW PV system on the roof of their office building on First Avenue in downtown Portland.
The financing of Ecotrust’s system was patterned after a flip model for wind power in Minnesota by Steven McGrath, president of Sustainable Solutions LLC, the general contractor that installed the PV system with assistance from Stoner Electric Group. The planning was done by Commercial Solar Ventures, another Portland firm. McGrath, who previously worked for the Foods and Farms program at Ecotrust, was happy to see this project through, calling it the “missing piece for this building that is the nexus of the sustainability movement in Portland.”
The 36.75-kilowatt system consists of 210 175-watt panels made by SolarWorld, a German company that operates a manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Ore., and a 30-kW inverter by PV Powered, a company in Bend, Ore. The panels are angled at 15 degrees and were installed on the building’s flat upper roof, except 40 of them, which were mounted above and below the south-facing windows on the third floor. They do double duty in a passive solar sense, either as awnings or as shade for the plants on the building’s eco roof.
It’s not Portland’s biggest and badest photovoltaic system. For example, Powell’s Bookstore with 100 kW and the Portland Habilitation Center with 850 kW, have much more silicon on top. But it turns sunlight into enough clean electrons to cover approximately 10 percent of the electricity needs of a building that has an interior space of 70,000 square feet and 19 tenants, including two restaurants.
And when the place is closed during a sunny weekend, the PV system feeds electricity to the grid, making the meter run backwards. Not a bad deal for a place that was built nearly 115 years ago.
