King Gillette Ranch Solar Panels Go Unused

Carports fitted with solar panels at in Calabasas are ready to start generating energy for the park, but a years-long squabble with Southern California Edison has left the green project sitting idle, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Several national parks and recreation areas throughout the state are having the same problem with their taxpayer-funded efforts while federal agencies try to reach an agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) to "tie the projects to the state's electrical grid," according to the Times.

"It is disappointing to see this big investment sitting idle when we could easily flip the switch and produce benefits," said Santa Monica Mountains Superintendent Woody Smeck.

"We are purchasing electricity from SCE, whereas we could be using renewable energy from the sun and returning power to the grid," Smeck said. "Until we can get the interconnection agreement approved, the switch is off and we can't benefit."

Jack Williams, who retired this month as the National Park Service's Oakland-based regional facilities manager, says the Park Service was successful in brokering a deal with PG&E, but SCE has been a little more difficult to work with.

An SCE spokesperson declined to comment to the Times.

Check out the full story on the Los Angeles Times' website.