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Press Releases 2007
CONTACT: Mary Planding, Director, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-6158
mary.planding [at] cabrillo.edu
October 2, 2007
Cabrillo College Gives Green Light to Pursue Negotiations for 1-Megawatt Solar Energy Array
Largest Single Solar Installation in Santa Cruz County
APTOS, CA--The Cabrillo College Board of Trustees gave a green light last night to pursue negotiations for putting the largest single solar installation in Santa Cruz County on the Cabrillo Aptos campus. At present, the largest installation in the county is at Plantronics Inc. At up to1-megawatt, the proposed Cabrillo installation would be four times the size. The net result would be a cost-neutral energy solution for Cabrillo with work done by a local firm that would save over 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The proposal is made possible through the work of two firms—Generating Assets and Solar Technologies. Generating Assets, a firm of investors, would fund the cost of the solar array, install it and maintain the panels over the term of the 20-year agreement. Solar Technologies would provide the technical expertise for the project and procure the panels. Generating Assets would own the panels and then sell the power generated by the array to Cabrillo at a rate per kilowatt hour at or below the rate Cabrillo is currently charged by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The cost (estimated at $8,000,000) would be partially offset by a $2.20 per watt grant (approximately $2,200,000) from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) secured on behalf of Cabrillo by the two firms.
“Reversing global warming is a major defining challenge of this century. Cabrillo is proud to be on the forefront of taking action to make our campus climate neutral and sustainable,” stated Brian King, President of Cabrillo College.
The agreement will also include provisions for integrating the installation and maintenance of the solar array into class curriculum at Cabrillo. Students would have opportunities to work with the solar array and learn about sustainable energy as part of their class assignments.
Cabrillo faculty, staff and students are fully supportive of this project. Multiple discussions have been held on campus to help determine the best placement and configuration that works well for all parties involved. Marko Realmonte, president of the Cabrillo Student Senate affirmed, “The Student Senate unanimously endorses this project and is proud to have a small part in making it a reality. Students today are very sensitive of the environment and our increasing need for alternative energy sources. The array offers an incredible learning tool for our student population and a very visible example to our community of our commitment to a 'greener' campus."
The success of the project is contingent in part on the college and Generating Assets reaching agreement on a power purchase agreement. Both parties hope this can be achieved in time to present the proposed agreement to the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees at the November 2007 meeting for approval. Once the agreement is approved, work will begin to finalize the size of the system, the location of the panels and to begin the required engineering studies prior to installation. The project completion date required by the grant is October 2008.
President King is also a signatory of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which is a high-visibility effort to make campuses more sustainable and address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on campus. The proposed solar array will fulfill one of several actions recommended by the ACUPCC.
About Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. It is ranked #1 in transfers to UC Santa Cruz. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technology programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of proficiency, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Our mission is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our diverse community by assisting all students in their quest for lifelong learning and success in an ever-changing world.
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