FACILITIES GOING GREEN IN CALIFORNIA
Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Facilities for Going Green
October 28, 2008
Courtesy of http://gov.ca.gov
Recently, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger installed 1,727 solar panels on the rooftop of the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. This is the latest green action taken by the STAPLE management team. The 345 kilowatt photovoltaic solar system covers 24,196 square feet of the arena’s rooftop. Then the Governor tours the frozen food Contessa Manufacturing Plant that has waterless urinals that will save 200,000 gallons of water each year and solar panels the length of its rooftop. This plant is able to reduce its energy use and carbon dioxide emissions by 65 percent. Governor Schwarzenegger is highlighting companies and facilities that are going green. He is happy to celebrate the commitment that these companies are making to reduce their carbon footprints. For these companies, it is not just good for the environment, but also for business. “Our landmark global warming law calls for 30 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and projects like these will help us get there while also helping us meet our long-term renewable energy goals”, states Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The economy will be boosted with California’s push to increase renewable energy sources to 20 percent by the year 2010. Governor Schwarzenegger also supports reaching 33 percent increase in renewable energy by the year 2020. California’s policies will create as many as 403,000 jobs in the next 12 years and household incomes will increase by $48 million, according to an economic study from the University of California at Berkeley and Next 10.
California has partnered with SunEdison to provide a zero-emission 8 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic system to power 15 California State University campuses. Other state departments are working to generate approximately 7 MWs of solar power at five state prison sites and three state mental hospitals. The Governor signed his Million Solar Roofs Plan (California Solar Initiative) into law in August 2006 so that solar power could be made more accessible to California homeowners. It will provide additional clean energy and reduce the output of greenhouse gases. The incentive plan for homeowners and building owners who install solar electric systems will lead to one million solar roofs in California by the year 2017.
