New Coachella Solar Panels May Help Families Save Money

Coachella is becoming a “greener” city.

The city installed 50 solar panels next to the water reclamation facility where sewage is treated 24 hours a day.

“[The panels] takes power off the grid during the daylight hours and allows us to produce about 40% of our own power here,” said utilities general manager Curtis Aaron.

The city expects to save about $30,000 a year in operating the water facility with the panels’ help.

In the end, households may see lower utility taxes.

The solar project took 40 days to complete at a cost of $2.7 million. The Imperial Irrigation District helped pay for it with a $1 million grant.

Mayor Eduardo Garcia said the remaining balance will be paid through rebates of the energy produced and sold back to the power grid.

The panels are innovative. “Bowls” on the panel are designed to focus the sunlight’s energy and make it more intense, which in turn, creates more energy.

Also, each panel has its own anemometer. Whenever it becomes too windy, the panels will shut down by laying flat.

The panels will be turned on Friday.