Mayor Helps Install Solar Panel on Largest Single-Rooftop Solar Power System in City

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ceremoniously helped install the first solar panel today on what the city is heralding as the largest single-rooftop solar power system in Los Angeles County.

The planned 5.1-megawatt solar power system being installed on the rooftop of fashion retailer Forever 21's headquarters in Lincoln Heights is the first to take advantage of two DWP solar incentive programs on one site.

The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program and the Solar Incentive Program provide monetary incentives to DWP customers who install their own solar panels and allow those customers to sell excess power back to the grid, according to DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards.

"We applaud Forever 21 for planning the largest solar rooftop system in the city and the third largest in the state," Edwards said. "It's a great example of how a business can use both of LADWP's customer-focused, local solar programs to generate solar power for their own use as well as to benefit the entire city with clean renewable energy," she said.

Garcetti also lauded Forever 21's efforts and said the solar project moves the city one step closer towards the goal of generating 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

"We have got to cut our energy consumption and go green with the energy that we have," Garcetti said. "This is over 1,000 homes that will get their power just for Forever 21 being wise about the future."

Solar energy installation specialist PermaCity will install the system on Forever 21's roof with expected completion by early fall. Once complete, PermaCity estimates the system will help keep nearly 13 million pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air each year -- the equivalent of taking 1,200 cars off the road.

—City News Service