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Petro Solar presents pole-mounted solar option; commissioners request cost, ownership and aesthetics analysis
Summary
Petro Solar told LAFCO it has deployed 200,000 pole-mounted solar units in New Jersey and can ship sample units for inspection; commissioners and advocates pressed for financial details, integration with SFPUC, and concerns about aesthetics, undergrounding and smart-grid governance.
LAFCO members heard a staff briefing and vendor presentation on pole-mounted solar technology and asked staff to pursue more detailed financial and implementation analysis.
Caroline Tang (LAFCO staff) summarized a New Jersey utility program that places solar panels and communications equipment on utility poles and streetlights; staff estimated the New Jersey rollout could produce about 40 megawatts when complete. "This program is expected to produce about 40 megawatts of energy when it's completed in 2012," Tang said and noted staff had not completed a deep financial analysis.
Chris Chappell, representing Petro Solar, said his company has deployed roughly 200,000 pole-mounted units in New Jersey and is working with utilities in California. "We are located in New Jersey, and we are deploying 200,000 pole mounted solar units with smart grid capability as well," he said. Chappell told commissioners Petro Solar can install poles quickly, claimed a levelized cost of energy lower than large solar fields or rooftop systems because of lower upfront engineering, and said a project of significant scale could support local manufacturing and permanent jobs.
Public commenters and commissioners pressed for price and governance details. Eric Brooks (San Francisco Green Party) flagged a press report that put New Jersey's program cost at $200 million for 40 MW and urged that local deployments be structured so build-out assets can be integrated with the community choice program to preserve better economics. Commissioners raised concerns about aesthetics in areas with many existing antennas and about uneven undergrounding across neighborhoods, noting some districts have far more undergrounded lines than others and that pole-mounted deployments could exacerbate neighborhood concerns.
The commission asked staff to continue joint analysis with SFPUC and to return with financial particulars and feasibility options before any pilot or commitment.
Quote excerpts are taken from LAFCO meeting statements by Caroline Tang, Petro Solar's Chris Chappell and public commenter Eric Brooks.
