Big Bear Lake, CA, June 12, 2014 – The City of Big Bear Lake received a Dept. of Energy grant for solar demonstration projects and already have one project up and running and another one in the works. Currently, solar equipment has been running continuously since March on a warm storage building in the Public Works Yard and will generate an energy savings of $56,000 this year.
The City has decided to move ahead on a second project that will also benefit from grant funding. It is an 8000 square foot parking canopy which will be topped with a solar energy collection system. The canopy will be located in the lot on the northeast corner of the Civic Center property and will provide covered parking for about 25 vehicles. More importantly, it will generate a yearly energy savings of about $80,000, or 56% of the Civic Center’s yearly energy costs. The project must be completed by mid October to ensure receiving the grant money.
The DOE grant covers 50% of the costs of these projects with the balance being paid by the City. The annual electrical savings will payback the City’s contribution in 7 years.
