The County of Ventura has partnered with ForeFront Power to develop a 7.7 MW-DC solar energy and battery storage project at the Ventura County Government Center in California.

The project will comprise a 5.8 MW solar canopy parking system and a 1.9 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) across Parking Lots A through F at the Government Center. Once operational, the system is expected to generate nearly 9 million kWh of clean electricity annually, enough to meet the annual electricity consumption of more than 1,500 homes.

The project is also expected to offset more than half of the Government Center’s electricity consumption.

Solar and Storage to Improve Energy Resilience

The battery storage system will store excess solar power generated during the day and make it available during periods of high electricity demand or peak pricing. This will enable the County to reduce its reliance on grid-supplied electricity while improving energy cost management and operational resilience.

The project is being developed under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ForeFront Power. Under the agreement, ForeFront Power will develop, own and maintain the solar and storage system, with no upfront cost to the County.

The County will purchase electricity generated by the system at a fixed rate below the applicable utility rate throughout the PPA term. The project is projected to deliver more than $21 million in energy cost savings over 20 years.

“Every dollar we can save on operating costs helps us make the most of taxpayer funds,” said Thomas Hunt, Director of the County of Ventura’s General Services Agency.

Project Expected to Cut 5,000 Tons of CO₂ Annually

The completed project is expected to offset approximately 5,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year, equivalent to removing the annual greenhouse gas emissions from around 1,060 gasoline-powered vehicles.

Located at one of the County’s largest energy-consuming facilities, the project is intended to reduce dependence on utility-supplied electricity while supporting the County’s sustainability and energy resilience objectives.

Ruben R. Fontes, CEO of ForeFront Power, said the company would manage the development and operational complexities of the project, allowing the County to deploy on-site renewable energy and storage without upfront costs or additional administrative burden.

The partnership will leverage ForeFront Power’s expertise in project development, financing, engineering, construction and long-term operations to support the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure at the Government Center.