At present, the school has 10,000 panels in place producing 1.85 megawatts of clean power. Under the next phase of Butte College's solar development - approved recently by its board of trustees - the school will install another 2.7 megawatts of solar-energy equipment.
In total, Butte College will be able to produce 4.4 megawatts of solar energy - more than any other university and more electricity than it consumes. "Butte College will provide enough clean renewable energy to cover all of our electricity needs and generate slightly more than we use - which will be a source of additional revenue for the college," Dr. Diana Van Der Ploeg, the school's president, said.
A significant chunk of the 2.7-megawatt solar project's cost is being provided by federal bond funding, and the school will pay about $4 million out of pocket. It will save about that much each year in energy once it goes completely solar: The college's director of facilities notes that $150 million will be saved over the next 30 years.
