While an iconic building complex in downtown Riverbank was coming down, other nearby areas were experiencing a technological makeover at city facilities.

The Del Rio Theatre complex has been demolished with the rubble being disposed of, but two other sites, just blocks away, are seeing the construction of solar panel facilities in their parking areas.

The parking area behind the Police Services building on Third Street, as well as behind the Teen Center and Community Center buildings on Santa Fe, are seeing work going on with the construction of solar panel installations in their parking lots.

The work areas remain fenced off while work is being done, with the locations of the two awning sections clearly obvious these days.

The Community Center project is designated as the Riverbank Micro Grid Project, and the amount requested was to be $2,500,000, from the Federal Interior and Environment Subcommittee in Congress.

The proposal was for the installation of a micro-grid solar energy system, solar photovoltaic, at the Community Center. The PV system was set at 69.12 kilowatts (KW), producing 109.1 megawatt-hour (MWh) annually.

The system will include a 100 KW battery energy storage system that will store up to 327 KWh per charge.

Officials said that this is expected to allow the Community Center to operate independent of the current Pacific Gas & Electric power provided, and is to be a safe, reliable location for Riverbank’s emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster.