Page 16 - North American Clean Energy September/October 2019 Issue

solar energy
Solar vs
the California Drought
by Chris Greenmyer
IT WAS SPRING 2017. THE WORST DROUGHT IN
California’s history had just shown signs of letting up. Even though supplies were replenishing, water was still in high demand; valley farmers were desperately looking for ways to cut costs while trying to stay afloat with diminished crops. On top of that, utility prices were at an all-time high, and discussions of tariffs were making their way through the industry, striking fear into the eyes of every developer, builder, and end user in the country. No better time to start an AG-driven, large scale solar project in the middle of the California valley, right?
For one project contractor, it was the perfect time, and the project was given the green light. As 2018 rolled in, 22 trucks rolled towards Stockton, California. Carrying over 230,000 pounds of pre-fabricated gray steel, the fleet delivered their load to Sousa Farms Inc., which was getting ready for the construction of an 85,000 sq. ft solar canopy.
Construction started with the columns. Each column is supported by spread footings that measure a minimum of 10’ in length, by 10’ in width, and 3’ in depth. Yards and yards of concrete flooded the site, topping off all 28 rebar caged footings. Then came the steel canopy, erected by a crew of hard-working individuals responsible for making sure that each bolt, nut, and washer was installed according to plan, and torqued to correct specifications.
After the drought had ended, the rain arrived. The structure was in jeopardy
of delays due to what the weather report was showing on the horizon. In order
to avoid costly delays, the contractor needed all hands on deck, and as many resources as possible to overcome the challenges of a potentially historic wet winter. Even as numerous storms bore down on the site, the team did not give up. To help push through winter
muck, truckloads of crushed
rock were installed on site; this
allowed work to continue in
the wet conditions. The crew
rode the wave through the
harsh winter, and into the foggy,
dew-filled spring mornings.
By summer, the structure was
a skeleton of gray, soaking up
the UV rays that would soon be
used to harness energy.
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SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 /// www.nacleanenergy.com