San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Sudberry Properties executives, together with council member, Lorie Zapf, have announced plans to create a “smart energy community” in Mission Valley. The plan will make the new Civita master-planned development more sustainable and energy-efficient once the proposed installation of several new technologies goes ahead. Potential installations include solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, fuel cell generation, battery storage and enhanced energy management tools for residents. These energy management tools are meant to make Civita a model for future low-carbon communities that help residents and businesses preserve the environment and conserve electricity.

Jim Avery, the senior vice president of power supply for SDG&E, a regulated public utility that serves the San Diego and Orange (News - Alert) counties in providing safe and reliable energy service, expressed his confidence in the project saying that his company was “proud to be working together with Sudberry Properties on the new Civita community” and commended Sudberry for their vision in “adopting new smart grid technologies that enhance reliability and empower customers to live in a more energy-efficient manner.” He was hopeful that the project would help create sustainability and be an inspiring example in the future to the region.

The senior vice president of Sudberry Properties, Marco Sessa, also expressed his confidence in the project by pointing to the focus being placed on sustainability and in using the latest energy-efficient technology that would benefit the environment and at the same time provide useful services to residents. Sessa was quoted as saying, “These innovations, coupled with the extensive water conservation measures that we are employing, will make Civita a model for future development.”

The mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, also expressed his support for the Civita project stating that it was consistent with what the city was trying to achieve by integrating solar power, clean transportation and energy efficiency into the homes and businesses while strengthening the community overall.

Some proposed smart grid technologies have included the use of devices that give residents the ability to conserve energy as well as onsite power sources that keep electricity flowing during outages.

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