Oroville has over 4.0 megawatts installed capacity of energy from the sun, through the combined output of photovoltaic systems on businesses, city, county, and other government facilities.

With a population of 13,000, this is 300 watts of solar energy per person. Individual solar systems on private homes throughout Oroville add hundreds more kilowatts of clean, reliable solar power.

Oroville was proclaimed Solar City USA on Earth Day 2003 by Mayor Gordon Andoe at a dedication ceremony at the Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region, which is powered by a 622-kW DC solar system.