Channel Islands National Park is located just off the coast of Southern California, yet it is one of the least visited of the National Parks. The isolation of the islands has protected them from development and in many ways they remain a unique wilderness and are full of wonder. The isolation has also created challenges for the management of the National Park as operating in remote locations makes the logistics of providing facilities and energy for park operations both costly and difficult.

The park consists of Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands and the surrounding waters out 1 mile, total acreage 249,353 (1,009 q km).

One of the operational goals of the park is to eliminate where ever possible any reliance on nonrenewable energy and as new facilities are constructed we will defer the use and incorporate greening technology when ever possible. Currently in the park there are 72 renewable energy applications in operation. These range in size from single module solar installations which power remote communications, weather stations and provide lighting/ventilation for pit toilets to a large scale hybrid wind/pv system on Santa Rosa Island. Projects also include use of biodiesel to operate a 56 foot research vessel and to make Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands petroleum free.

This web site provides descriptions of the current renewable energy applications, our proposed future projects, other greening activities and information about "One of the Worlds Greatest National Parks".

Anacapa Island
Santa Barbara Island
Santa Cruz Island
San Miguel Island
Santa Rosa Island
Mainland Facilities
Emission Calculations
Energy Links
Channel Islands National Parks Home Page

Last Updated 8/28/2000
URL http://www.nps.gov/chis/emainnf.htm
Page constructed by Kent Bullard,(805)658-5745