Alameda County Fairgrounds Commissions 2.1-Megawatt Solar Carport and 32-Stall EV Charging Plaza in Pleasanton

Facilities directors with the Alameda County Fairgrounds and clean-energy engineers from Ava Community Energy energized a 2.1-megawatt elevated solar photovoltaic carport canopy and a 32-stall public electric vehicle charging plaza on Saturday afternoon inside Gate 8 at 4501 Pleasanton Avenue along the Valley Avenue corridor in Pleasanton. Spanning four acres of the main visitor parking lot across from Bernal Community Park, the high-clearance steel canopy shades 680 parking spaces while generating an estimated 3.4 gigawatt-hours of emissions-free electricity each year for the 267-acre exposition complex.

Beneath the eastern wing of the solar canopy, electrical contractors commissioned twelve 180-kilowatt dual-cable CCS and NACS (J3400) direct-current fast chargers alongside twenty 11.5-kilowatt Level 2 AC charging ports. Accessible 24 hours a day on non-event days via the Gate 8 Valley Avenue entrance, the charging plaza serves Pleasanton apartment residents, I-680 commuters, and regional trade-show exhibitors with open tap-to-pay credit card readers and zero membership surcharges during off-peak solar daytime hours.

The solar array is tied directly into the Fairgrounds' Exhibition Hall B emergency transfer switch, enabling the air-conditioned 50,000-square-foot pavilion to operate as an autonomous Tri-Valley public cooling, clean-air, and livestock evacuation center during regional heatwaves or power shutoffs. High-efficiency LED under-canopy luminaires also cut night parking lot electricity consumption by 62 percent.

The $5.4 million renewable energy project was financed through an Ava Community Energy public-facility power purchase agreement and a California Energy Commission CALeVIP fast-charging grant. Drivers and event attendees can check live charger availability and fairground event calendars on the Alameda County Fairgrounds Visitor Portal.