SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vista Solar today announced
the completion of a 153-kilowatt solar power system for WestGate Church.
The system, which was designed and installed by Vista Solar, is expected to
offset WestGate's electricity bill by nearly 95 percent, and generate more than
250,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year, the equivalent of powering 24
homes.
Vista Solar secured a $0 down, 15-year power
purchase agreement (PPA) which
allowed WestGate to be cash-flow positive from the start and is expected to save
the church nearly $16,000 annually.
"Solar was a smart move for us financially, a no-brainer," said Executive Pastor
Dan Perkins of WestGate. "The savings we are realizing provides another way for
us to help tip the scales toward generosity as we increase our bottom line."
With more than 2,500 congregation members at two South Bay area locations,
savings generated by the high efficiency SunPower solar system will help
WestGate continue to run its annual "local compassion" programs and pursue its
goal to give away 50 percent of the church's budget, according to Perkins.
As part of the PPA agreement, Vista Solar will monitor the system for 15 years
to ensure it is performing at or above expectations. Since the system sits on
two pitched rooftops at the church's San Jose facility, Vista Solar is using
state-of-the-art online monitoring software which enables detailed visibility of
both arrays from one platform, and provides system performance alerts.
"Vista Solar was an excellent partner," said Perkins. "We were extremely
impressed with their professionalism and efficiency. I would highly recommend
them to anyone considering solar."
The solar energy components for this system included SunPower X-Series solar
panels delivering efficiencies of 21.5 percent, SMA Tri-Power inverters, Locus
monitoring software, and a ProSolar racking solution.
About Vista Solar
Vista Solar is a California commercial solar electric design and
installation firm, which specializes in analyzing commercial and agricultural
utility rate structures and optimizing solar system designs to generate the
maximum energy bill savings for our clients. With over 100 solar installations
and +9 megawatts of solar power systems installed across California, Vista Solar
has a demonstrated ability to deliver solar solutions that generate dependable
energy production and significant long-term financial benefits. For more
information, visithttp://www.vista-solar.com.
About WestGate Church
As a rapidly growing church with two campuses in the Silicon Valley,
WestGate is a non-denominational Christian church that engages deeply within the
community it serves. You can find out more about WestGate's beliefs, views and
programs by visiting their website athttp://www.westgatechurch.org.