Courtesy Butte College
By May 2011 , Northern California ’s Butte College will produce enough solar vitality to cope with its vigor needs , seduce it the first grid - electropositive college in the U.S.
Butte College , a residential district college locate in Northern California and resting on a 928 - acre wildlife refuge , has been recognized over the last few years as a national residential area college loss leader in sustainability . It manoeuver as a ego - contain metropolis with its own water system organisation , sewerage discourse quickness and the largest residential district college transportation organization in California . The college get down implementing the first of three solar vim project in 2005 , and by May 2011 , the college will become the only college in the state that is grid convinced — grow more clean energy from sustainable on - site solar power than it employ .
The college ’s Board of Trustees recently approved Phase III of the solar undertaking . Approximately 15,000 solar photovoltaic panels will be supply to the college ’s current 10,000 solar panels , making it the largest solar - produce college in the human race . Over the track of a twelvemonth , the college will return enough electrical energy to power the equivalent of more than 9,200 median - sized homes .
“ Once this solar project is completed , Butte College will provide enough white renewable energy to cover all of our electricity penury and generate slightly more than we apply , which will be a source of additional revenue for the college , ” says Diana Van Der Ploeg , Butte College ’s president . “ Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do . Being the first grid - positive residential area college in the rural area demonstrate our commitment to the sustainable recitation we ’re model for our student and our communities . ”
The new 15,000 solar jury will be mounted on the ground , placed on rooftop and used to make continue parking area and walkways . The installment of 13 newfangled solar arrays has already start out at the college ’s Chico Center campus and will culminate at the main campus . When all of the college ’s solar project are flux , the college will have a yearly reduction of more than 6.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide , 27,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 20,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide .
“ This solar project facilitate the college make out close to being climate electroneutral and allow for the college to offer solar preparation classes , in addition to reducing zip price and render revenue , ” order Van Der Ploeg .
Two regional companies came together to make the solar project potential . Chico Electric and DPR Construction , Sacramento combined forces to form Chico Electric DPR Energy JV and to bring expertness in sustainable get-up-and-go .
The solar project will provide a hike to the local economy by apply local seller and worker , says Mike Miller , Butte College ’s conductor of facility , planning and management . It also saves money for taxpayers — a projected net amount of more than $ 150 million over 30 eld .
“ We ’re also excited that a number of the workers on this project are apprentices who go bad through the college ’s solar installation training syllabus , ” says Norm Nielsen , possessor of Chico Electric and a Butte College grad .
Over the past several geezerhood , Butte College has realise a numeral of national awards for sustainability leadership , including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in in high spirits Education ’s 2009 Campus Leadership Award , the Environmental Protection Agency ’s 2009 Green Power Partnership Award , the National Wildlife Association ’s 2008 Campus Chill - Out Award and several LEED building certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council .
“ This project serves as a poser for other colleges and universities in meet energy penury and plunk for a unripened jobs thriftiness , ” says Mark Cirksena , regional manager for DPR Construction . “ According to the Environmental Information Administration ’s energy outlook a dyad of year ago , buildings represented 72 percent of U.S. electrical energy economic consumption . ”
The full support for the project is $ 17 million , of which $ 12.65 million is made potential by Union Clean Renewable Energy Bonds , low - interest loan that can be used for fair energy task . The remaining $ 4.35 million will be fund by the college . Funding for Phase III came from nearly $ 1 million in discount from PG&E , the California Solar Initiative and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act / CREBS allocations .
