July 6, 2026
The Coyote Valley Casino & Hotel California’s Redwood Valley is home to the Golden State’s newest solar carport installation, with a 2.23 MW system scheduled for completion on June 29.
The new system has 1,500 YES solar energy modules and 10 inverters from Chint Power Systemssay representatives, and will generate only 3.5 GWh per year. The casino says the new energy generation will save more than $450,000 in the first year alone Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians ownership group.
All told, the project includes a 1.41 MW solar carport installation in the casino parking lots, keeping California cars out of the sun. In addition, the Coyote Valley Hotel is now equipped with a second 817.5 kW system, which provides power to nearby Tribal Council offices.
“This solar energy project represents an important step toward a more sustainable future for our tribe and our community,” said Rachel Whetstone, CFO of the Coyote Valley Tribal Council. “By investing in renewable energy, we reduce operating costs, protect the environment and demonstrate leadership in responsible development.”
Excess power will also go to nearby businesses, such as a grocery store and a wastewater treatment plant, the company says.
Creating value in the Valley
This solar carport project is one of many in California overall, as the state leads the U.S. in current carport installations. In its infancy, the project was outsourced to the EPC company SunRenu Solarwhich has become a well-known carport provider on the West Coast since its founding in 2008.
John McDonell, president of SunRenu Solar, says the project was developed jointly with Tribal leadership, as well as the Ministry of Energy and based in Arizona Watthub renewable energy sources.
“This unique project offers annual savings of more than 45%, with no upfront costs and no maintenance responsibility for the tribe,” he says. “It’s a win-win-win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Part of the project’s existing power purchase agreement (PPA) is that the site will be managed and operated by Baltimore’s Sunrock distributed generation over the next 30 years. Sunrock will sell all energy generated to customers at a discounted rate compared to normal energy costs on the California electric grid, and the casino expects to reduce its energy bills almost “significantly,” officials say.
“This project demonstrates how Sunrock can help turn energy costs into long-term economic value for local communities,” said Wilson Chang, CEO of Sunrock Distributed Generation. “The Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians is using solar energy to reduce utility exposure, strengthen operational resiliency, and save more than $450,000 in the first year alone.”
Tags: California, carport, commercial and industrial, project
