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The first car enters the new solar parking lot that opened in Isla Vista yesterday. Photo by Victor Maccharoli

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Solar parking lot opens in IV

By COLBY FRAZIER — Nov. 13, 2009

A healthy contingent of Isla Vistans gathered yesterday or the opening of a new parking lot at 881 Embarcadero del Mar.

Yes, a ribbon cutting for a parking lot. County of Santa Barbara officials noted the oddity, but were quick to point out the significance of the 45 parking spaces: the parking lot is as environmentally friendly as a parking lot can be.

“It certainly serves s a model for sustainable projects to emulate throughout the county,” said 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr.

An array of 98 solar panels, mounted to steal beams which hover over the parking stalls, power the lights and parking meters in the lot.

The panels, which Jeff Lindgren, redevelopment manager for Isla Vista, said will soon number 109, will generate enough electricity to power all the lights along Pardall Road as well.

The solar panels, and the beams they’re mounted on, double as shade for vehicles, which Bob Nisbet, director of the county’s General Services Department, said belch less pollution the quicker they cool. And a water filtration system will help keep storm runoff clean.

The parking lot sits on a half-acre site that once housed a Chevron gas station.

Four years ago, when the possibility of acquiring the property was first raised, Nisbet said he was unsure of the possibilities.

“The whole thing just seemed a little half-cocked to me,” he said. “I’m happy to see today that I’m wrong.”

The lot is located in the heart of Isla Vista, where parking spaces are rare luxuries. Over the next decade, if cars become less of a necessity, Nisbet said the parcel could be turned into something even more beneficial to the community.

Lindgren said the county spent $1.4 million to acquire the property, and construction of the parking lot was $760,000, $200,000 of which went to the solar set-up.

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It's Solar POWERED : 11/13/2009

Confusing headline. Sounds like a tanning parking lot, or even a parking lot for the sun!

Beachguy

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Waste management : 11/13/2009

2 million dollars for a PARKING LOT!!!!!??????????? This is lame. County is broke, and your wasting money on a parking lot in IV. We really need some leadership in this community - those in charge now are out of touch with reality.

NEXT!

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PV solar parking : 11/16/2009

Maybe it could have been easier to mount a tracker on a rectangular steel base providing 45 % more KW at half the price
CH Tech

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