City of Martinez Commissions 180-Kilowatt Solar Carport Canopy and Ten Public EV Chargers at Rankin Aquatic Center

Public works engineers with the City of Martinez and clean-transportation specialists from MCE commissioned a 180-kilowatt elevated steel solar carport canopy and ten dual-port Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations on Saturday evening at the Rankin Aquatic Center and Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline trailhead lot at 100 Buckley Street in Martinez. Overlooking downtown Martinez and the Alhambra Valley hills, the hillside aquatic and trail complex serves more than 60,000 annual lap swimmers, youth swim-team families, and hikers ascending the John Muir National Historic Site and Carquinez Strait ridges.

Spanning sixty-four parking stalls across the main Buckley Street terrace, the cantilevered galvanized-steel carport structure supports 360 high-efficiency bifacial monocrystalline solar modules expected to generate 292,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year. That on-site generation offsets 88 percent of the annual electrical load drawn by Rankin Aquatic Center's variable-frequency pool filtration pumps, ultraviolet water sanitizers, and locker room heat-pump water heaters.

Beneath the shaded canopy, electrical crews installed five dual-pedestal ChargePoint CT4021 commercial charging stations—including two ADA-compliant van-accessible EV stalls—delivering 7.2 kilowatts per port at MCE Deep Green off-peak municipal rates. Integrated under-deck LED fixtures improve evening visibility for trail runners, lifeguards, and swim coaches returning to their vehicles after dusk.

The $580,000 municipal clean-energy project was financed through City of Martinez Climate Action Reserve funds, MCE EV Charging infrastructure rebates, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District Charge! grants. Martinez residents, lap swimmers, and regional trail visitors can check seasonal pool hours and real-time EV charger availability on the City of Martinez Rankin Aquatic Center Portal.