City of Concord Joins Chevron Energy Solutions To Achieve Greater Sustainability and Generate $18 Million in Expected Taxpayer Savings

CONCORD, Calif., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the City of Concord and Chevron Energy Solutions joined with dignitaries and residents from throughout the region to celebrate completion of a transformative solar and energy efficiency program expected to save taxpayers $18 million. Today's celebration included a ceremonial flipping of the switch at the centerpiece of the program: a 200 kW photovoltaic solar installation adjacent to the City's community pool, where solar panels are expected to generate enough electricity to offset 70 percent of the pool's energy demand and earn the City more than $450,000 in state and utility incentives.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/CG71853)

In all, the City of Concord's program includes 14 projects that reduce energy and maintenance costs. Projects include upgrades to street and park lighting, retrofitting the boiler and pump at the community pool, and replacing outdated air conditioners at City facilities.

"This was a bold program in that the City took a comprehensive approach to tackling our growing energy costs," said Ron Leone, Mayor of the City of Concord. "With the completion of this program, we have demonstrated once again our commitment to local taxpayers to maximize every dollar with which we have been entrusted."

To design the program, the City worked with Chevron Energy Solutions, who also engineered and constructed the projects and has guaranteed the performance of the solar energy system.

"We are delighted to deliver this program to the residents of Concord," said Chevron Energy Solutions President Jim Davis. "City leaders in Concord have taken bold action in dramatically reducing the City's energy demand and generating millions of dollars in expected taxpayer savings. The City serves as a good example for public agencies across the state and the country."

This program is part of the City's larger focus on creating a more sustainable community, both environmentally and fiscally. The City's attention now turns to implementing its reuse plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station, a 5,000-acre area the City envisions as a future sustainable community featuring dense, transit-oriented development and housing and large swaths of park and open space. The reuse plan, approved by the City Council earlier this year, has been credited with establishing new benchmarks for planning sustainable communities and has been promoted as a model for cities throughout the Bay Area and the state.

About the City of Concord: Located less than 30 miles east of San Francisco, the City of Concord has a population of 122,067 residents, making it the largest city in Contra Costa County. With its temperate climate, central location, and convenient access to San Francisco, Napa Valley, Silicon Valley and Sacramento, Concord allows residents to enjoy a wide variety of unique and scenic attractions within the immediate Bay Area as well as throughout Northern California. For more information: www.cityofconcord.org

About Chevron Energy Solutions: Chevron Energy Solutions is one of the largest installers of solar power in the U.S. education market and has developed hundreds of projects that improve energy efficiency and provide renewable power for education, government and business facilities. Chevron Energy Solutions develops and builds sustainable energy projects that increase energy efficiency and renewable power, reduce energy costs, and ensure reliable, high-quality energy for government, education and business facilities.

Contact: Leslye Asera, City of Concord, 925.671.3272; Ken Pimental, Chevron Energy Solutions, 415.733.4673.

SOURCE Chevron Energy Solutions; City of Concord