Westfield Corporation, a global leader in the design, development and operation of landmark retail destinations, is integrating solar energy into its newest Los Angeles area property called The Village at Westfield Topanga. The Village’s 820 kilowatt (kW) solar system, developed in partnership with Alta Energy, a solar analytics and procurement company, is expected to provide approximately 8% of the electricity used at the shopping center. This clean, renewable energy system brings Westfield’s solar capacity in the U.S. to more than 3 MW at five separate locations. Overall, Westfield now supplies 3.7% of its direct energy consumption with renewable energy.
“Long before construction of The Village at Westfield Topanga began, Alta Energy worked with us to establish the value of solar at this site and therefore maximize the project’s effectiveness,” said Scott Hartman, Westfield’s Vice President, National Operations. “Alta Energy guided us quickly through the solar analytics, specifications, and vendor selection so we could focus on our core business.”Alta Energy CEO Sam Lee said, “This project demonstrates the economic value of designing a building to accommodate the needs of the solar system into the construction plans. That, along with significant incentives provided by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), made this project a clear winner.”
LADWP General Manager Marcie Edwards said, “The solar system at The Village at Westfield Topanga is a significant renewable energy project in the Los Angeles area, moving the region away from dependence on fossil fuels and toward cleaner, more sustainable and renewable energy sources. In the next decade, LADWP will completely transform its power supply to eliminate coal through a combination of increased energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy to 33% by 2020.” When The Village at Westfield Topanga solar project comes online in the fall of 2016, it will increase rooftop solar in Los Angeles beyond its current total of nearly 190 MW.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who is Vice Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee of the City Council, said, “While I’m working with my partners at City Hall to green the San Fernando Valley and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, it’s very encouraging to see our private sector partners including Westfield respond to the need for clean energy. I’m happy to see solar panels coming to The Village at Topanga and look forward to continuing to collaborate on renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts by businesses throughout my district.”
Alta Energy’s comprehensive services to Westfield on this project included:
- Evaluating Westfield’s properties for solar potential;
- Securing incentives from all available sources including LADWP;
- Selecting vendors to participate in the multiple-bid RFP process;
- Advising Westfield as they chose the ideal vendor.
Alta Energy will continue to partner with Westfield to consider additional solar projects, as market and policy conditions fluctuate.
For Westfield, the importance of sustainability is seamlessly integrated into company culture and operations. The aim of Westfield’s sustainable business practice is to operate safely and more efficiently, use energy more wisely, produce less waste, engage with the community, and build and redevelop shopping centers that make the most of new technology and new design techniques. This focus on sustainable operations is detailed within Westfield’s 2015 Sustainability Report.
Source: Businesswire
