Collins Electrical Company, Inc. (CECI) is proud to announce the completion of the Ellis Creek Floating Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project, a first-of-its-kind renewable installation for the City of Petaluma and the largest floating solar array currently operating in California. This milestone project reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing innovative clean energy solutions throughout the state.
Installed by Collins Electrical Company, Inc. in partnership with White Pine Renewables, the project transforms unused pond surface at the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility (ECWRF) into a high-performance renewable energy asset, delivering long-term savings, enhanced water quality, and meaningful environmental benefits for the City of Petaluma.
Floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology is rapidly emerging in the United States, and we’re proud to help lead this evolution. The Ellis Creek project is our fourth floating solar installation and, at 6.4 megawatts, is now the largest floating solar array currently operating in California, a major milestone for both Collins Electrical, White Pine Renewables, and the state.
The Ellis Creek Floating Solar PV Project will provide Petaluma with:
- Nearly $500,000 in annual energy savings, totaling an estimated $11 million over 20 years
- Significant progress toward carbon neutrality by 2030, reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduced evaporation due to shading from the floating panels
- Efficient use of space, eliminating the need for additional land
We are also proud to report that this project was completed with zero safety incidents and zero injuries, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
We are grateful to the City of Petaluma, White Pine Renewables, and our talented CECI team for making this project a success. We look forward to continuing to build the future of renewable energy together.
“Collins Electric has been White Pine’s trusted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor since 2020 and has consistently and safely delivered some of the largest and most technically complex behind-the-meter solar and storage projects in the state of California,” said Evan Riley, Managing Partner of White Pine Renewables. “What truly sets Collins Electric apart from its peers are the people and the team mentality that they bring to every job. When White Pine works with Collins Electric, we feel like we are part of the same team working collaboratively to deliver a project to our mutual customer—the energy buyer. That ethos is what has White Pine picking Collins Electric again and again for our jobs.”
The Ellis Creek Floating PV project will hold the title of “largest floating PV in California” for a few months. CECI, along with our trusted partner White Pine Renewables, is currently building what will become the largest paired floating solar and battery storage project in North America, roughly 12 MW, scheduled for next year.
Together, these projects demonstrate the power of innovative, site-specific renewable solutions to meet the country’s energy, water, and climate challenges.
“At Collins Electrical Company, Inc., we’ve been working to build something truly monumental. This project reflects a massive collaborative effort between our skilled electricians and our trusted partners. Floating solar is exactly the direction renewables need to go: smarter designs, optimized natural site conditions, and solutions that meet the challenges in front of us. We’re proud to help lead the way,” said Wen Luu, Renewables General Manager, Collins Electrical Company, Inc.
As floating solar accelerates across the country, we are committed to helping cities, water treatment plants, water districts, and commercial/industrial organizations explore how solar and battery storage can reduce energy costs, strengthen resilience, and generate long-term operational savings.
