Novato and Sonoma based SolarCraft, recently completed the installation of a 76.5 kW solar power installation at the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center in Santa Rosa. Harnessing the power of the sun, the Sonoma Museum increased the sustainability of its operations while cutting operating costs by thousands every month.
“Completing this solar project not only saves costs for our museum, but it also aligns with our tribal community goals and cultural values,” said Nicole Lim, executive director at the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center. “It is critical that we engage in daily practices that mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. We are doing our part for our ancestral homelands, cultural resources and future generations.”
The new solar electric system will offset over 67 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year that would otherwise be emitted by fossil-fuel based utility power. This impact is equivalent to saving 156 barrels of oil, removing air pollution produced by over 170,000 miles of driving, or the pollutants removed by planting 83 acres of trees annually.
SolarCraft is 100% employee-owned and is one of the largest green-tech employers based in the North Bay for over 35 years. SolarCraft delivers Clean Energy Solutions for homes and businesses including Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage. With over 8,500 customers, its team of employee-owners installed more clean energy systems than any other company in the North Bay.
The solar photovoltaic system is roof mounted, consisting of (180) high-efficiency 425-watt solar panels which will produce over 95,000 kWh of clean, renewable power every year. This will offset nearly 100% of the Museum’s electrical needs, allowing operations to run on solar power with less than a percent of power reliance on the utility grid. Future plans to make the facility more energy resilient include a battery backup installation, and the solar power system was designed to accommodate that. Many nonprofit organizations are committed to cleaner, renewable energy and solar is one way to meet those goals.
Commercial power purchase agreements (PPAs) allow non-profits to benefit from federal incentives. The PPA provider is able to monetize federal incentives and passes the benefits through to non-profits via lower lower contracted utility rates. The Museum expects to save over $650,000 in utility fees from solar and the PPA arrangement over the next 25 years.