Orange County Developer To Install Tesla Batteries In Two Dozen Buildings (computerworld.com)
Lucas123 writes: The Irvine Company, a Newport Beach-based real estate developer that is a dominant landlord in Orange County, plans to install Tesla commercial batteries in two dozen of its buildings around Irvine Spectrum and John Wayne Airport. The project is the first of its kind of that size. The batteries will charge during non-peak hours and distribute power to the buildings during peak hours, a process that's expected to save the developer up to 10% of its energy costs or about $1 million a year.
$30M to install? I'm seeing roughly $600k, at $25k per pop, per building.
The thing to remember about commercial building electric rates is that you not only pay a charge based on electrical usage, but also a 'peak power demand' surcharge. By reducing any peaks in power usage, it saves money on their bills.
If it saves anywhere near $1M/year, a roughly $1M investment is a foolish bargain to refuse.
I don't read AC A human right
The Irvine Company is a commercial company not the government. What Orange County taxes are you talking about?
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/teslas-closed-loop-battery-recycling-program
Because during peak hours where these batteries are going to be active is when buildings in Orange County have experience the occasional power outages. So reducing their draw during these hours is a benefit to the larger Orange County community.
You are spot on with this. As an employee of a company who is in an Irvine Company building that is going to get these batteries, I can attest to the power outages and mandatory rationing that we are subject to. They are not too invasive and so far have amounted to little more than no building A/C after 5pm. I had to contend with much worse rationing working at a non-profit in downtown LA who had heavily discounted power.
It is really wicked that the wealthiest state in the nation can not provide quality, electrical services. One would think that California would have by far the best electrical supply in the nation.
Replying as AC because I modded the parent.
Is it really that big of a mystery? Which political party has ruled California for the majority of the last few decades? And which political party refuses to build new power plants?