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Energy

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• Fuel Cell
• Lighting Retrofit (county buildings)
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A fuel cell plant produces half of Santa Rita Jail's energy needs.

Fuel Cell

Producing clean energy is a key strategy that helps Alameda County reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the Santa Rita Jail, a 1 million square-foot facility that operates 24/7 and has large energy demands, the County installed a 1-megawatt fuel cell power plant. It was the first megawatt-class fuel cell in California and was certified by the California Air Resources Board as an ultra-clean distributed generator. The plant generates 50% of the Jail's electricity needs. In addition to providing electricity, it also produces heat used to pre-heat the Jail's hot water systems.

Documents

• Santa Rita Jail Fuel Cell Case Study (PDF - 471kb) *
• Santa Rita Jail Fuel Cell Overview (PDF - 2306kb) *

Related Links

• California Energy Commission
  State's energy policy and planning agency