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The rooftops above Santa Barbara City office space and vehicle storage in the 600 block of Laguna Street will be the site of enough solar panels to power 1,040 homes by Oct. 31. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site on Wednesday.

The city will be able to purchase the collected solar power from Tioga Energy, which is paying for the approximately $3 million project and will be the owner and operator. The agreed price on the electricity is cheaper than that of power from Southern California Edison, according to Tioga officials. Project and city officials released details to the media at the city's corporate yard site on Laguna Street, the solar system's soon-to-be home.

"This is a large solar project, and we certainly hope that we can spread this throughout the city," Mayor Marty Blum told the News-Press. She added: I hope this is the beginning of a huge solar revolution in Santa Barbara."

Tioga President Paul Detering emphasized the importance of local projects like this and the importance of renewable energy.

"The state level and the federal level have a very clear impact on our ability as a nation to really become sustainable and transition off of the old types of energy... but it starts at the local level, and so it's delightful to see the energy that is here." He also encouraged people to contact candidates for elected federal positions in order to find out their positions on energy.

With regard to maintenance, Mr. Detering said the panels don't take all that much, but they will need to be washed every once in a while because it doesn't rain often in the area.

While the solar system will be owned and operated by Tioga, it was designed and will be built by EI Solutions, whose president, Andrew Beebe, grew up in Ojai and often visited the Central Coast. He commented on how refreshing it is to come to communities like Santa Barbara that are receptive to renewable energy.

"It's really neat to be back here and seeing a city that cares so much about its place in history, its place in its community and its place from a sense of sustainability," he said.

Planning for the solar system - being touted as the largest in Santa Barbara - began after installation was completed on the solar panels atop Santa Barbara Fire Department Station 2 in 2007.

Of the location that was chosen, Public Works Director Christine Andersen said, "The corporate yard site was the best location for optimal size and sun exposure, and we're delighted in Public Works to be able to have this opportunity to house this installation."

The solar system will include a total of 1,830 Suntech 210-watt solar panels.

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