California college is “grid positive”
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.
Related News

Iran eyes transmitting electricity to Europe as region’s power hub
TEHRAN - Following a plan for becoming West Asia’s electricity hub, Iran has been taking serious steps for joining its electricity network with neighbors in the past few years.
The Iranian Energy Ministry has been negotiating with the neighboring countries including Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Qatar for the connection of their power networks with Iran to make them enable to import or transmit their electricity to new destination markets through Iran.
The synchronization of power grids with the neighboring countries, not only enhances Iran’s electricity exchanges with them, but it will also increase the political stance of the country in the…