Agilent Turns 3 Acre Parking Lot Into Solar Power Plant

Agilent Technologies flipped the switch Friday on Sonoma County's largest solar power generating system, with nearly 3,500 solar panels that track the sun.

"Even through the clouds, we're producing 200,000 watts of power," said Ron Nersesian, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Wireless Business Unit.

The panels are mounted on a giant canopy over a 3-acre parking lot at Agilent's Fountaingrove campus in Santa Rosa.

At its peak, the system will generate more than 1 megawatt, or 15 percent to 20 percent of Agilent's required energy.

The system was built by SunPower Corp. of San Jose and is owned by GE Energy Financial Services. Agilent will purchase the energy at a slight savings over PG&E rates.

"This new solar power system is a great complement to our existing sustainability programs," Nersesian said.

Santa Clara-based Agilent has about 1,450 employees in Santa Rosa, headquarters for its wireless unit.