Waterfront Solar Project

In September 2025, the Sustainability & Resilience Department partnered with the Waterfront Department to expand the City's solar energy infrastructure. The installation of a new rooftop solar panel array at 117 Harbor Way will provide renewable electricity right at the Waterfront, helping the City lower its energy costs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This project builds on earlier solar efforts at municipal facilities and shows the City’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. By adding more solar power to public facilities, Santa Barbara is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, saving taxpayer money in the long run, and moving closer to its climate goals. 

About the Project
Power generated by the new solar panels (PV array) will be used to power City buildings at the Harbor. This power will not be sold to businesses renting space at 117 Harbor Way or connected to their electric meters. Instead, the panels will send electricity directly to the Waterfront Maintenance Shop at 117 Harbor Way, which acts as the main “generating meter.”

If the solar panels generate more electricity than is needed, the extra power will go into Southern California Edison’s (SCE’s) grid. That extra power can be counted as a credit to help lower the electricity bills for other nearby City-owned buildings at 125 Harbor Way and 132 Harbor Way. This setup makes sure the City gets the most value from the solar panels while using all available roof space.