ATHERTON, CA —Town leaders joined Peninsula Clean Energy at an April 15 ribbon cutting celebrating the installation of a new solar photovoltaic system at the Atherton Town Hall that will result in emission-free power and long-term energy cost savings.
The rooftop solar system — which is owned, operated and maintained by Peninsula Clean Energy — is projected to generate roughly 3.50 million kilowatt hours of electricity and save nearly $900,000 in energy costs over the next 20 years.
“Atherton’s Town Hall and Library are 100 percent electric buildings, which means Atherton town operations are largely emission-free. This rooftop solar system will reduce our energy costs substantially,” Atherton Mayor Stacy Miles Holland said. “I hope the Atherton Town Hall and Library will continue to serve as inspiration for other municipalities and residents — sustainable, all electric buildings can be functional, cost-effective and beautiful.”
“This solar installation is a win-win for Atherton,” Atherton Vice Mayor Rick DeGolia said. “It enables us to realize our ambitious sustainability goals of building a zero net energy Town Center with no natural gas connection, while providing significant long-term energy cost savings.”
“This project marks another milestone in our decade-long partnership with the Town of Atherton. By removing upfront development costs and offering favorable pricing, we are proud to support the Town in simultaneously slashing emissions and saving on energy costs,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Shawn Marshall said.
The project is part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s GovPV program, which enables solar and battery storage installations at public facilities through innovative partnerships that lead to reduced energy costs, cleaner energy and backup power.
In 17 San Mateo County jurisdictions and the City of Los Banos, PCE’s GovPV program is slated to complete 36 solar installations by June 2026. These projects are projected to save local agencies an estimated $45 million over a 20-year term.
In addition to solar energy systems, Peninsula Clean Energy is working on integrating battery storage at up to 19 of the sites. Battery storage paired with solar in this way can support resiliency at public facilities providing access to clean power during outages and reducing strain on the grid.
By providing the construction capital, Peninsula Clean Energy was among the first to leverage “direct pay” benefits established by the federal Inflation Reduction Act. This allows tax-exempt entities to claim the full federal Investment Tax Credit without the need for a third-party tax equity partner. This federal incentive results in lower electricity prices for the participating municipalities.
Featured project sites include:
- Daly City Bayshore Community Center
- Menlo Park Library
- Millbrae City Hall
- Los Banos Wastewater Treatment Plant
- San Bruno Aquatic Center
- Atherton Town Hall
- San Mateo County’s Wellness Center in South San Francisco (new building)
- Additional sites are in Brisbane, Colma, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco and Woodside.
About Peninsula Clean Energy
Peninsula Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for the communities of San Mateo County and Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.com, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
