San Rafael City Hall Police Department

Civic Solar Electric Installation Project Profile

Every year this 246 kW solar power system, design & install by SolarCraft, will save the City of San Rafael thousands in utility fees, while increasing the sustainability of their operations and reducing their power costs.

The solar PV system consists of 566 high-efficiency solar panels that make up a 53 kW roof mount system on the City Hall building and a 193 kW Carport Canopy Systems in the Police Department parking lot. The parking canopys will provide shade protection for the City's fleet of first responder vehicles and were prepared for electric vehicle charging stations.

The project was nearly half completed when the Coronavirus pandemic broke. While SolarCraft immediately complied with local authorities, suspending the majority of its operations, the project for the Police Department and City was designated an essential project. SolarCraft completed the installation during the midst of the region's public health emergency by employing many new safety procedures and carefully coordinating with the City's project team.

"SolarCraft is proud to have partnered with the City of San Rafael to help them achieve their sustainability goals and demonstrate environmental leadership and financial responsibility," said SolarCraft CEO Ted Walsh. "It is more important than ever for our government agencies and the private sector to work together to build a healthier and more sustainable future for our community."

The system is projected to provide 378,700 kWh of clean, sustainable power annually, offsetting 268 metric tons of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted by fossil-fuel based utility power. This impact is equivalent to removing air pollution produced by over 664,400 miles of driving annually or the pollutants removed by 350 acres of trees.

This new clean energy installation is part of San Rafael's Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) developed to increase the City's supply of renewable energy sources, and to reduce dependency on non-renewable energy sources. This adds a fifth installment to the City's current solar installations on the Public Works building, a community center and two parking structures.