Solar Project

Project Completed October 2023! 

The solar structures are now successfully connected to the grid! This groundbreaking project will deliver cleaner and more cost-effective energy to our busiest facilities. These solar structures are anticipated to produce one million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually!

The newly introduced shade structures have proven to be a hit, enhancing members' experience at recent events like the Canyon Lake Car Show at the Lodge and the City Golf Championship at the Golf & Country Club, as well as providing much-anticipated vehicle shade for the many visitors at the Equestrian Center.

These solar panels have no upfront cost for the Canyon Lake POA. Instead, the Canyon Lake POA will purchase the generated electricity at a much lower cost than current rates. Additionally, we will be locked in at set rates for 25 years. The annual rate escalation from Southern California Edison remains unknown, so this will guarantee that the Canyon Lake POA pays a fixed amount over the next 25 years. We are expected to save nearly three million dollars over 25 years. 

Solar Project Photos

Solar Project

Project Updates

  • photo

    September 29, 2023

    The driving range area under the solar structure at the Golf Course will open on Saturday, September 30. New grass in front of the driving range tees will be installed in the coming weeks. This Repair & Replacement project was approved at the July Regular Session Board Meeting.

  • photo

    September 1, 2023

    Work to restore the driving range area under the solar structure at the Golf Course is underway. This week, crews worked on the concrete pad for the driving mats and started the interlocking pavers for the seating area. Up next, crews will be working on seat walls, planters, and landscaping. This Repair & Replacement project was approved at the July Regular Session Board Meeting, the Board approved funding to restore the driving range area.

  • photo

    June 23, 2023

    Work is finishing up on the solar structures at the Country Club as staff works with contractors to add hard surfaces under the new solar structures on the driving range. The solar project has been in development by the last 10 Boards over the last 10 years. The Finance, Facilities Planning, and Green committees have all been involved in this project throughout its development. This project will provide much needed shade along with decades of clean energy and millions of dollars in savings to the Canyon Lake POA operating budget, all at zero upfront cost.

  • photo

    June 16, 2023

    Work is finishing up on the solar structures at the Canyon Lake Golf Course over the driving range tee box. There are two separate solar shade structures at the driving range due to an EVMWD sewer line easement between them. The two structures will be connected with a dark shade cloth appearing as one and will provide continuous shade.

  • photo

    May 12, 2023

    Solar structures are well underway at the Canyon Lake Golf Course over the driving range tee box. These solar panels have no upfront cost for the Canyon Lake POA and will generate over one million kilowatt-hours of clean energy, and save our members millions of dollars in energy costs in the coming decades.

  • photo

    April 28, 2023

    Solar structures are underway at the Canyon Lake Golf Course over the driving range tee box. These solar panels have no upfront cost for the Canyon Lake POA and will generate over one million kilowatt-hours of clean energy, and save our members millions of dollars in energy costs in the coming decades.

  • photo

    April 21, 2023

    Solar structures have wrapped up at the Lodge and started at the Canyon Lake Golf Course over the driving range tee box. These solar panels have no upfront cost for the Canyon Lake POA and will generate over one million kilowatt-hours of clean energy, and save our members millions of dollars in energy costs in the coming decades.

  • photo

    January 10, 2023

    The Solar Project kicked off today! This week, crews are starting the overhead solar array at the Equestrian Center. Please follow any posted signage.


This project has been discussed here for many years, and staff worked with several providers to bring this shovel-ready project and proposal to the Board. The contractor will construct a solar carport at the Lodge parking lot and overhead solar array structures at Canyon Lake Country Club and Equestrian Center. This system will be built at no upfront cost to the Canyon Lake POA.

CANYON LAKE SOLAR HISTORY

Project Development — 10 Years In The Making!

Project vetted by Finance, Facilities Planning, & Green Committees over multiple meetings.

PROJECT INITIATION

2013 – 2014 Board

President David Eilers & Directors Dawn Haggerty, Bruce Yarbrough, Eric Spitzer, & George Middle
AUG 2013 — The Board authorized staff to develop and release RFP for car port solar solutions for common areas.

2014 – 2015 BOARD

President David Eilers & Directors Eric Spitzer, Bruce Yarbrough, Dawn Haggarty, & Douglas Gordon
MAY 2014 — Staff provided updates on solar structures at various community facilities.

SOLAR PROJECT UPDATES

2015 – 2016 BOARD

President Bruce Yarbrough & Directors Douglas Gordon, David Eilers, Ted Horton, & Eric Spitzer
NOV 2015 — Staff provided a presentation on the Solar Project that featured car port solar solutions for the Lodge and Country Club.

2016 – 2017 BOARD

President Bruce Yarbrough & Directors Eric Spitzer, Dale Welty, Ted Horton, & Paul Queen
SEP 2016 — Staff and Board provided updates at Board meeting on solar project.

2017 – 2018 BOARD

President Paul Queen & Directors Dale Welty, Tom Nathan, Phil Hawgood, & Mike Harris
APR 2018 — Facilities Planning Committee Meeting updated on provisions to Parking Lot Project to incorporate a design plan to accommodate solar covered parking at the Lodge and Country Club.

2019 – 2020 BOARD

President Dale Welty & Directors Chris Poland, Jeanne O’Dell, Jim Barringham, & Tom Nathan
JUL 2019 — The Board ratified approval of the Wildan Engineering Parking Lot Project including future solar conduit at the Lodge and Country Club.

2020 – 2021 BOARD

President Chris Poland & Directors Tom Nathan, Jeanne O’Dell, Jim Barringham, & Joe Kamashian
OCT 2020 — Board provided update on solar opportunities.

2021 – 2022 BOARD

President Joe Kamashian & Directors Jim Barringham, Brian Bock, Renee Griffiths, & Tim Cook
AUG 2021 — Letter of Intent signed.
APR 2022 — The Board approved execution of Solar Power Purchase Agreement contract commencing construction of this cost and energy saving program that provides shade at no upfront costs.

2022 – 2023 BOARD

President Renee Griffiths & Directors Tim Cook, Bill Van Vleet, Greg Doherty, & Alex Cook
DEC 2022 — The Board approved to ratify the Solar Power Purchase Agreement and accept a finalized easement agreement.
JAN 2023 — After ten years of development, project starts at Equestrian Center & Lodge!

On April 5, 2022 the Board of Directors approved to engage in a Power Purchase Agreement/Community Solar contract. The cost to construct this system is over $2,000,000 and the contractor will bear 100% of the construction and engineering costs of this system. In exchange, the Canyon Lake POA will purchase electricity from the PPA provider at fixed costs that are much less than the current SoCal Edison rates, for a period of 25 years. The current blended SoCal Edison rates are $0.30 per kWh. In the first year, the Canyon Lake POA will be purchasing clean energy produced onsite for $0.149 per kilowatt hour. In 25 years, the PPA rates will cap at $0.189 per kWh while SoCal Edison's rates will undoubtedly be much higher than they are today. The estimated energy savings to the Canyon Lake POA is nearly $3,000,000 over 25 years.