Oil field goes solar

BAKERSFIELD

Central Valley Business Times

August 16, 2016

•  A 3.1-megawatt photovoltaic system for an oil field

•  Expected to offset over 20 percent of electric power costs

Seneca Resources Corporation's North Midway Sunset oil field in Kern County is going solar.

BAP Power Corporation unit Cenergy Power says it has completed construction of a 3.1-megawatt photovoltaic system for the oil field. The project is expected to produce roughly 5.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) annually and offset over 20 percent of Seneca's total electric power costs at the location.

Cenergy provided engineering, procurement and construction services for Seneca Resources Corp., installing 10,120 photovoltaic solar panels at the location west of Bakersfield.

Seneca's newly installed solar system is expected to generate enough clean energy annually to power more than 406 homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to burning over 4 million pounds of coal each year. In addition, Seneca will be the first California oil producer to take advantage of California Air Resource Board's Low Carbon Fuel Standard "Innovative Method" credit program.

"Proactive environmental stewardship is a theme we value at Seneca," says Jeffrey Formica, vice president. "We are committed to producing oil and natural gas in a sustainable manner and we are proud to commission this solar project in furtherance of that commitment."

Seneca Resources Corporation is the exploration and production segment of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) of Williamsville, New York.

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=31076