CityofGoleta
Update by the City of Goleta
July 27, 2022
The City of Goleta celebrated the unveiling and completion of Monarch 1, the City’s first solar array, at a green ribbon-cutting [Wednesday] morning, July 27, 2022, at Goleta City Hall. The event was well-attended (approximately 60 people) and included the entire Goleta City Council, City staff, dignitaries, stakeholders, staff from neighboring jurisdictions, and community members. City of Goleta Planning and Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof and recently retired, former Sustainability Manager Cindy Moore had the honor of officially cutting the green ribbon underneath the new installation, followed by cheers from the audience. Thanks to KEYT for capturing the moment with this video clip: https://youtu.be/ydSy9Hkra2k.
The Monarch 1 Solar project will generate 210 kw of solar power, which will power nearly 100% of City Hall’s energy usage with clean, renewable energy produced on-site.Monarch 1 is wired to be micro-grid ready and includes pre-wiring for six electric vehicle charging stations to be installed in the future. Anticipated savings for the City over the 25-year lifespan of the project are estimated to be more than $270,000. This is the first solar project of many that the City hopes to install at municipal facilities to offset energy use and meet the City’s 100% renewable electricity goal by year 2030.
Prior to the cutting of the green ribbon, speakers discussed the milestone project and its significance not only to Goleta but to the region.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “This is a truly historic day for the City of Goleta. Monarch 1 named for our famed butterfly, is the first municipal solar installation for the City and represents years of hard work and the City’s dedication to a greener, more sustainable future.”
Councilmember Kyle Richards said, “This project is not only a reminder of the City’s commitment to sustainability but a reminder that we as a community are coming together to address climate change. We are moving forward to meet our goals to reduce our carbon footprint, and in the process we are working to safeguard our region against vulnerabilities due to wildfires and grid disruptions.”
2nd District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Gregg Hart was impressed with the event turnout and said, ““The Goodland continues to be at the forefront of our regional efforts to advance sustainability. This project demonstrates the City of Goleta’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, while generating clean energy and putting our values into practice.”
Planning and Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof said, “The Monarch 1 Solar Project is a cornerstone of the City’s Strategic Energy Plan and our first step towards developing onsite generation at City facilities. It not only meets our environmental goals but shows fiscal prudence and responsibility.”
“Our City is committed to completing more projects like Monarch 1 to build a more climate resilient community and clean energy future,” said the City’s new Sustainability Manager Dana Murray. “I look forward to collaborating with our elected officials, staff, residents, and stakeholders to ensure that Goleta is prepared for and buffered from the local effects of climate change, while reducing our City’s carbon emissions.”
Make sure to drive by and check out Monarch 1 behind Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive).
Learn more about the City’s Sustainability Program and projects at: https://cityofgoleta.org/sustainability.
Mayor Perotte speaking to the audience
Green Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Goleta’s New Solar Photovoltaic Project
Source: City of Goleta
July 25, 2022
The City of Goleta invites the community to celebrate the unveiling and completion of the City’s first solar photovoltaic project, Monarch 1, on Wednesday, July 27 at 10:00 am at Goleta City Hall. The ‘green’ ribbon cutting will take place in the parking lot adjacent to the City’s Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Goleta) underneath the new installation and will feature brief remarks from City officials and elected representatives.
“This is a truly momentous occasion for our conscientious City that has been years in the making,” remarked City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte. “We hope that this is the first of many clean energy advancements for Goleta towards a brighter and more resilient future.”
The Monarch 1 Solar project will generate 210 kw of solar power, which will power nearly 100% of City Hall’s energy usage with clean, renewable energy produced on-site.Monarch 1 is wired to be micro-grid ready and includes pre-wiring for six electric vehicle charging stations to be installed in the future. Anticipated savings for the City over the 25-year lifespan of the project is estimated to be more than $270,000. This is the first solar project of many that the City hopes to install at municipal facilities to offset energy use and meet the City’s 100% renewable electricity goal by year 2030.
Joining the ribbon cutting will be the City’s new Sustainability Manager, Dana Murray, who brings a wealth of environmental experience from the City of Manhattan Beach. We hope you will stop by and welcome her to Goleta! The City is excited to continue to advance clean energy projects with new leadership and to build upon the foundation set by the City’s ambitious goals and the work of its staff.
Learn more about the City’s Sustainability Program and projects at: https://www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/sustainability-climate-adaptation
What happend to the panels after the 25 years is up?
This showed up in the LA Times recently
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-07-14/california-rooftop-solar-pv-panels-recycling-danger
California is heading into a big waste crisis concerning solar panels. They do have recyclable materials, but it’s prohibitively expensive to separate them from the toxic parts.$20-30 a panel to recycle vs $1-2 per panel to send to the landfill. The state of California will probably subsidize it all.
but the climate crisis is one to ignore? Solar panels will be recycled. they are made from glass(silica) and aluminum, both the most recyclable materials on the planet. we may not have a industry in place, althought we have a second hand industry more than happy to buy up those panels that are still producing after 25years, they have no moving parts. they dont degrade.
but again. looks for excuses
I hope solar panels don’t end up being “recycled” the way plastic was for so many years. The process will be extremely energy intensive and will require a lot of labor. As a result, there will be a huge incentive to do it overseas. Since it is unlikely that an economically viable recycling process will be devised in the foreseeable future, there will also be a tremendous incentive to claim the recycling subsidies and dump the panels in the sea as was done with “recycled” plastic people went to the trouble of putting in the blue bin. Landfills within the us will probably be the most responsible option for expired solar panels.
Fossil Fuel Pollution, in air, water, soil, oceans, forests, lakes, rivers, Public Lands and Parks can’t be recycled, we have to live with it’s massive far reaching destruction!
Chip, sadly the reason that happens is because of human beings being complete nutbags.
its not prohibitively expensive to recycle, you just dont get Lamborghinis or Bentley’s doing it. its not cool, not trendy, and not hip to recycle as a business. its dirty, you deal with broken old things, its not glamorous. so its not tiktok ready……
Solar panels will be recycled. One leading company working on that is Redwood Materials ( https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/services ).
I went to their website, and all they discuss is recycling EV battery waste, and they mention nothing of solar panel recycling.
Presently, only 10% of solar panels get recycled with 90% getting chucked into landfills according to this link:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/
At this rate one man’s trash will be someone else’s grandchild case of childhood cancer. The sheer quantity to solar panels going out of commission by 2050, 80,000,000 metric tons, is a tsunami coming our way.
hahah safely store nuclear waste…. talk to japan
VOR but the pending “green Armageddon” is completely OK for you all to shout to the heavens. maybe you should learn more about new technology…. think of that? nah. that means you have to get off your high horse. the crap you all say is exactly the same if you changed the word nuclear with solar. “OH MY GOD THE LIES, THE LIESSSSSSSSS” but im pretty sure I wont grow a third eye from my solar panels.
and what happened with Nuclear waste and coal powered power plant waste?…… (ohhhh yeah, NONE was recycled) It will be recycled as soon as people deem it worth it…. sadly thats how our recycling system works, until its “worth it” its not worth it. course the planet doesnt think that way. but I do laugh at the “what about our future” stab….. when we are talking about how the energy industry has fubard our planet for our future generations.
Pstar, since the 1950’s the US has only produced about 80,000 metric tons of nuclear waste which would fit on a football field about 10 yards deep. Contrary to the nuclear fear mongers it is possible to safely store the spent fuel in sealed containers on site, that don’t need constant cooling or being in pools of water, and they’ve done so for 70+years no problem. AND it can also be recycled if/when deemed “worth it”. It is significantly greener than solar panels, and especially the coal you compare it to. Until the green movement embraces nuclear they aren’t being serious about living in a fossil fuel free world of 6 billion people and growing.
Right, because leaving billions of people your incredibly toxic and deadly trash to deal with for the next 10000 years so you can save a few dollars, is totally, absolutely fine in your demented, sick mind…
Are you talking about not recycling solar panels to save a few bucks SBO? Again, I think you need to learn more about nuclear waste to understand it isn’t the pending Armageddon you think it is, you’re also ignoring the significant benefits the carbon free power generation will provide over our current, predominantly fossil fuel based energy generation.
The stored material didn’t leak in Japan.
Yeah, it was even worse. The containment vessel failed and the core melted down.
Anon: We were talking about the storage of nuclear waste and pstar tried to erroneously claim that caused an issue in Japan, it did not. The failures there area a different issue, with its own causes (50+ year old reactor built with 70+ year old tech, clear design flaws and a tsunami) and has it’s own solutions.