Search on “Solar Array” on the Green Lodging News website and you will find more than 200 articles. Many more solar-powered properties are listed in the Solar Powered section of Green Lodging News’ Renewable Energy All Stars. The latest addition to that section: the Coyote Valley Wyndham Garden in Redwood Valley, Calif. This past week, the Coyote Valley property, located on the Coyote Valley Reservation, announced it had completed a 2.23-megwatt (MW) solar carport system. It ranks among the largest solar installations in our industry.
The newly installed system is expected to generate approximately 3,472 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually—around 45 percent of the site’s energy use—delivering more than $450,000 in estimated first-year savings for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, the owner of the complex.
Parking Space: a Dual-Purpose Asset
The project includes a 1,411-kW solar carport installation across the casino’s parking areas, transforming existing parking space into a dual-purpose asset that generates onsite electricity while providing shaded parking for guests and staff. A second 817.5 kW system at the Coyote Valley Hotel supplies power to the adjacent Tribal Council offices, a convenience store, and wastewater treatment facility.
I have come across several solar carport installations in our industry over the years and of course it makes perfect sense to utilize that space for solar. (Search “carport” on GLN.)
In partnership with the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Sunrock Distributed Generation will manage and operate the system for the next 30 years, selling all the energy generated onsite to the customer at a discounted price compared to the cost of grid-supplied electricity. As part of the agreement, the system will be monitored and maintained under a long-term service arrangement, meaning the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians will benefit from reliable performance and ongoing cost savings.
A Demonstration of Leadership
“This solar project represents an important step toward a more sustainable future for our Tribe and our community,” says Rachel Whetstone, CFO of the Coyote Valley Tribal Council. “By investing in renewable energy, we are reducing operating costs, protecting the environment, and demonstrating leadership in responsible development.”
John McDonnell, Principal of SunRenu Solar, says: “We are proud to have developed this project alongside Tribal leadership, the Department of Energy, Sunrock Distributed Generation and Watthub Renewables. This unique project offers more than 45 percent annual savings, with no upfront cost and no maintenance responsibility for the Tribe. It is a win-win-win-win for all involved.”
The no upfront cost Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure is quite common in our industry. A couple of years ago, MGM Resorts International announced a 25-year PPA with Escape Solar LLC. Today, MGM Resorts International powers up to 100 percent of its daytime electricity needs on the Las Vegas Strip with solar energy.
Kudos to the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians for demonstrating leadership by choosing clean, renewable energy to power its facilities.
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