San Diego Gas & Electric has proposed what it calls the largest solar power installation in San Diego. The utility filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission on Friday to review and approve the solar program. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has more.
SDG&E says its proposed solar installations could be enough to power more than 50,000 homes.
Christy Heiser of SDG&E says the company is evaluating its own facilities for potential solar generation and also looking at mall parking lots and other locations in the county.
Heiser : This is just a natural progression into building larger systems with cities and areas on disturbed land like landfills. And in places with these parking decks where you can put these systems and shade the cars and actually be able to generate solar power too.
Heiser says the utility is negotiating agreements with the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee and Carlsbad to site solar generating facilities.
The company says if approved, up to $250 million will be invested in solar installations over the next five years.
Any power generated would help SDG&E meet a state mandated renewable energy goal.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.