THE MOSCONE CONVENTION CENTER SOLAR PROJECT 

The Moscone Center is San Francisco's premier meeting and exhibition facility situated in the heart of downtown. This is the first solar project slated to be implemented since voters authorized the solar bond in November 2001.   

The Moscone Center solar project consists of two parts: 

1)  Solar:  The Moscone Center will host a 675 kilowatt solar roof. One 468 kWp array will use PowerLight roofing tiles incorporating Sanyo Corp’s high efficiency, dual ply photovoltaic modules and will have a 15% efficiency factor, the highest commercially available.  The other array will use 207 kWp of PowerLight roofing tiles incorporating Shell Solar modules.  All the roof tiles will be mounted flat on the roof and are not visible from the ground.      

COST:  $4.2 million 

2)  Energy efficiency upgrades:  The Moscone Center’s incandescent and other older lighting will be upgraded to more energy efficient models such as T-5 and metal halide lighting fixtures.  Also, Moscone’s energy management systems will be better optimized by adding and upgrading sensors and upgrading some of its software.   

COST:  $3.2 million

 PROJECT COST    

$7,400,000	Gross Project Cost
-$2,100,000	Estimated  CA PUC “Self Gen” incentive
-$175,000	Estimated CA Energy Commission efficiency incentive
$5,125,000	NET COST
$429,000	ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE FOR 20-YEAR BOND @ 5.5%*
	*If gross project cost is financed the annual debt service is $619,000.  It is also possible that a longer term will be used.  The final interest rate will not be determined until the project bonds are issued.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL ELECTRIC GENERATION & SAVINGS FROM PROJECT 

825,000 kWh	Amount of solar electricity generated
4,500,000 kWh	Amount of electricity saved annually from efficiency measures
5,325,000 kWh	NET REDUCTION IN UTILITY ELECTRICITY USED
$639,000	ANNUAL UTILITY BILL SAVINGS @ 12 cents/kWh avg.*
	*Conservative estimate of electric cost to Moscone.  Actual avoided cost will be dependent on final design of efficiency measures.

MOSCONE’S ANNUAL SAVINGS 

$639,000	Annual utility bill savings
$429,000	Annual debt service costs
$210,000	ANNUAL NET SAVINGS FROM THE PROJECT

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The effort to put solar panels on government buildings in San Francisco was supported almost universally.