Butte College Solar Installation Makes School First Grid-Positive College
Thursday, August 5th 2010 7:00 AM
By GetSolar Staff.
Butte College has achieved an important milestone with its Oroville, California solar installation: By May 2011, it will become the first and only school in the U.S. to derive over 100 percent of its energy from renewable solar energy. The college has received approval from its Board of Trustees to finish the final phase of a solar project, adding 2.7 megawatts to an existing 1.85 megawatts of capacity, drawn from several arrays that comprise about 25,000 solar panels.
The installation could power over 9,200 average homes, and it more than meets Butte College's needs. The school will sell the excess energy back to the grid.
Federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds and rebates from Pacific Gas & Electric will help pay the $17 million price tag, once again illustrating the important role these financial tools play in encouraging sustainable energy development.
"Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Being the first grid-positive community college in the country demonstrates our commitment to the sustainable practices we're modeling for our students and our communities," said Butte College president Dr. Diana Van Der Ploeg.
The project brings other benefits, including a net savings of $150 million over 30 years and the opportunity to give students hands-on training with solar installations.
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Butte College has achieved an important 
