The South San Joaquin Solar Farm, which is one of the largest solar projects in the United States, is a 1.9 megawatt single-axis solar tracking system constructed to provide electricity to the De Groot Water Treatment Plant. In this forward-thinking, environmentally friendly project, 11,040 solar modules produce 3.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity output annually - enough to power 550 homes and offsetting nearly four million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Nearly 9,000 pieces were galvanized on this project, and packaging and bundling were very important to maximize full truck loads from Los Angeles to the site in central California. A critical timeline had to be followed in order to coordinate fabrication and galvanizing in L.A. and transportation to the jobsite within two months. With the quick turnaround in the galvanizing process, the galvanizer was able to deliver parts to the jobsite in a timely manner for this environmentally conscious green project.

This solar installation will transform San Joaquin into one of the greenest spots in California and will nearly wipe out the entire $500,000 annual electricity bill the Irrigation Department pays to run their plant. As the need to go green continues, the need for hot-dip galvanizing on solar projects will undoubtedly continue to increase. Galvanized steel, in addition to saving the waste and expense of corrosion maintenance and repair, is also recyclable - making it an environmentally friendly choice that easily integrates with the intentions of the Solar Farm.