Dive Summary

• The City of Palo Alto, which owns its utilities, will invest $350 million to develop a robust fleet of three solar generation projects, enough to power 65,000 homes.
• The ambitious solar plan is a part of the city’s effort to attain 100% of the city’s electricity from carbon-free, long-term renewable contracts and hydroelectric resources by 2017, thereby significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
• Starting in 2016, the solar power contracts will run 30 years.

From the article:
“Since Palo Alto owns its utilities all of the power generated from the solar will go back to the city. The city also receives nearly 50 percent of it's electricity from "non-carbon emitting hydroelectric generation," according to a statement. Currently the city provides rebates to residential homes and businesses who use photovoltaic solar panels.”