Thousand Oaks City Council Announces New Solar Projects

Thousand Oaks City Council has announced that two new solar projects will come up over the Municipal Services Center and the previous city hall complex located at Hillcrest Drive that houses the National Park Service office, Conejo Recreation and Park District.

The city council is diverting the money that was set aside for the $1.2 million Newbury Park library project, which was shelved after facing rejection from the Planning commission and the failure of the council in meeting the deadline set for the $372,395 California Solar Initiative grant. The city officials received lesser grant on their appeal and hence settled for two new projects instead of continuing a longer loan pay offer period of 18 years instead of 12 years. The two solar projects will receive $400,000 in the form of federal stimulus funds that had been linked to the library project.

The solar panels to be utilized in the Hillcrest Drive project are designed to prevent the seepage of water into the construction through a roof deck that is utilized for parking. The existing parking deck will be removed and a new roof will be installed at a cost of $1.4 million while the solar installation over it will cost another $1.6 million. The 300 kW panels to be installed over the roof top will supply clean energy for a period of 20 to 30 years and offer an annual savings of over $60,000. Solar installations at both the places will bring in a total savings of $85,000 every year.