Southern California Edison launches largest solar panel project

Rosemead, Calif.—Southern California Edison (SCE) today launched what may be the nation's largest solar cell installation, a project that will place 250 megawatts of photovoltaic generating technology on 65 million square feet of roofs of Southern California commercial buildings. That's enough power to serve approximately 162,000 homes.

"This project will turn two square miles of unused commercial rooftops into advanced solar generating stations," said John E. Bryson, Edison International chairman and CEO. "We hope to have the first solar rooftops in service by August. The sunlight power will be available to meet our largest challenge—peak load demands on the hottest days."

SCE's project was prompted by recent advances in solar technology that reduce the cost of installed photovoltaic generation. The resulting costs per unit are projected to be half that of typical photovoltaic installations in California.

SCE today asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to install the solar cell technology during the next five years. The request estimates the total project cost will be $875 million (in today's dollars). The utility plans to begin installation work immediately on commercial roofs in Southern California's Inland Empire and San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which is said to be the nation's fastest growing urban region.

"These new solar stations, which we will be installing at a rate of one megawatt a week, will provide a new source of clean energy, directly in the fast-growing regions where we need it most," said Bryson. The solar module architecture will eliminate the need to install new transmission lines to bring power to customers.

SCE believes its program will boost several California environmental initiatives, particularly the Million Solar Roofs program that provides incentives to encourage Californians to install solar projects by 2017. The state's Global Warming Solutions Act reportedly requires the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. California's renewable portfolio standard requires that 20 percent of the state's electricity be generated with renewable energy by 2010.