Solar PV for City facilities

solar panels on city facility

New solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for City facilities are planned as part of the Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC) microgrid and Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE)’s Solar and Storage for Public Buildings Program. All facilities will remain open during typical hours. Systems are being installed at the following five facilities:

  • Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center
  • Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC)
  • Belle Haven Child Development Center
  • City Hall
  • Menlo Park Library

These efforts support the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 for cleaner air and improved health, specifically CAP Strategy No. 5: eliminate fossil fuel use from City operations, by securing affordable electricity prices for City facilities that will be switching from gas to all-electric appliances. Please visit menlopark.gov/homeupgrade for information about programs for residents looking to install solar and battery systems and/or replace their outdated gas appliances with newer, cleaner, efficient electric options for their homes.

Current status

City Hall rooftop system installation and the final phase of the BHCC microgrid carport systems at Kelly Park began mid-December, 2025. The carport systems for City Hall, in the parking lot between City Hall and the Gymnastics Center, should begin construction early-February and be completed by the end of March.  

All solar PV systems are scheduled to be completed prior to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 deadline, April 14, 2026.

Temporary parking disruptions and alternate parking lots

All facilities will remain open during typical hours. We encourage carpooling and taking public transit to visit the facility during construction. Limited disruptions to parking at the Burgess Campus are expected during the upcoming installation of the rooftop system at City Hall. During the City Hall carport system construction much of the parking lot between City Hall and the Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center will be closed. Alternate parking locations will be available for the duration of the project.   

Alternative parking locations include City Council Chamber’s lot (751 Laurel St.), Burgess Tennis Courts lot (corner of Laurel St. and Burgess Dr.) and the Burgess Baseball Field lot (on Alma St.). The very limited remaining parking in the lot near City Hall will be reserved for members of the public. 

Parking at Kelly Park for the BHCC solar carport will be impacted for the duration of the project. There is limited parking at the Belle Haven Community Campus. Community members are encouraged to carpool or take public transportation.

2026-01-CivicCenterParkingMap(PDF, 4MB)

Project history

The solar PV systems are a great representation of the multiple ways that new solar can be installed. The system at Kelly Field is part of the broader BHCC microgrid which includes solar PV panels on the roof of the building and carports over the front parking lot and battery storage system that enables the facility to operate without power to promote resilience. The City will own this system outright and manage a contract with Opterra, to install and maintain the system. For information and project milestones for the BHCC project here. 

The solar PV systems at the Arrillaga Gymnastics Center, Belle Haven Child Development Center, City Hall, and Menlo Park Library were financed through power purchase agreements (PPAs) with PCE. With the PPA model, PCE has arranged for the design, installation, operations and maintenance of the solar PV systems, and the City would pay an agreed upon price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for power generated throughout the system’s life. The PPA is being provided “at cost” by PCE to cover equipment, installation, maintenance and administrative expenses. City staff coordinated with PCE to identify projects, complete site assessments and submit interconnection applications for four qualifying facilities under the favorable NEM 2.0 rates in 2023. Some project milestones include:

Date Description                                                                                                                                                                    
 May 21, 2024   Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a PPA with PCE
 Dec. 5, 2023  Informational item to City Council

 

Contact us

Sustainability Office
Email

650-330-6720

 

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