California college is “grid positive”
OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA - A California college says it is set to become the nation's only grid-positive college, producing more energy from its own on-site solar power than it uses.
Butte College in Oroville, Calif., will add 15,000 solar panels to its existing 10,000 by May 2011 to become the largest solar-producing college in the world, a college release said.
"Once this solar project is completed, 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, Butte College President, said.
The school's solar panels will generate more than 6.3 million kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power more than 9.200 average-sized homes, the release said.
The 15,000 new solar panels will be placed atop rooftops and will create covered parking areas and walkways.
The project will cost $17 million, with $12.65 million coming from federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, which are low-interest loans that can be used for clean energy projects.
The college will fund the remainder, up to $4.35 million.
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For Hydro-Québec, selling to the United States means reinventing itself
MONTREAL - For 40 years, through the most vicious interprovincial battles, Canadians could agree on one way Quebec is undeniably superior to the rest of the country.
It’s hydropower, and specifically the mammoth dam system in Northern Quebec that has been paying dividends since it was first built in the 70s. “Quebec continues to boast North America’s lowest electricity prices,” was last year’s business-as-usual update in one trade publication.
With climate crisis looming, that long-ago decision earns even more envy. Not only do they pay less, but Quebeckers also emit the least carbon per capita of any province.
It may surprise most Canadians,…
