Mar 19 2010
Thanks to a partnership between Mitsubishi Electric and East West Bank, The Port of West Sacramento will be provided with a 637-kW DC solar photovoltaic system. The system comprises 3,536 photovoltaic modules from Mitsubishi Electric and covers an area of 90,000 square feet. The system will be installed on two rice warehouse buildings’ rooftops.
The entire power needs of the port will be met through this solar power system during the next 25 years. The solar system is anticipated to cut down the electricity costs of the port by $20,000 per year. East West Bank has provided long-term financing and construction loan for the project. Executive Vice President of East West Bank, K.Y. Cheng, commented that the project is in line with the bank’s “Go Green” initiative to encourage the California’s clean tech industry.
The solar project is one of the green initiatives undertaken by the port to reduce its environmental impact. Other initiatives include energy efficiency improvement and proposed implementation of a “marine highway” container barge system to reduce emissions. The “marine highway” system implementation will be carried out by the port in partnership with Port of Stockton and Port of Oakland.
Port of West Sacramento manager, Mike Luken, said that in addition to other green initiatives, the solar project demonstrates the port’s commitment to become one among the greenest ports in the nation.