Mission College, Gilbane Co., a full-service construction company, and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), announced the dedication of a 1.1-megawatt (MW) solar power system at Mission College, located in Santa Clara, Calif. Over the 25-year-life of the system, Mission College is expected to save approximately $8.5 million in electricity costs.
"The SunPower installation will greatly reduce our campus' operating expenses, allowing the College to direct precious general fund dollars toward academic programs, supplies and teachers," said Mission College President Dr. Laurel Jones. "We are excited to be a model of sustainability for our student body and local community by introducing sustainable practices throughout our campus, including the new solar power system, development of clean tech curriculum and construction of LEED-designed, energy-efficient buildings."
The 1.5-acre, 1.1 MW parking lot canopy structure will generate approximately one-third of Mission College's electricity demand, while reducing energy costs and providing shading for parked vehicles. Comprised of 2,640 high-efficiency, SunPower® E19 / 425 Solar Panels, the system will generate up to 50 percent more energy for the college than a similarly-sized system with conventional solar panels.
"At a time when schools are hard-pressed to reduce operating expenses, SunPower is working with K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to finance solar power solutions that supply significant, ongoing savings," said SunPower Managing Director Bill Kelly. "To realize a great return on its investment in clean energy, Mission College wisely utilized low-interest financing mechanisms accessible to educational institutions and selected a system with guaranteed long-term energy performance and the highest efficiency, highest reliability on the market today."
SunPower is actively installing solar power systems at more than 90 educational facilities in Calif. during the 2011 to 2012 academic year. Over the last month, SunPower has celebrated the completion of installations at seven schools, including the 1.1-megawatt system at Mission College. The company has also built systems for community colleges including Bakersfield College, Mendocino College, Napa Valley College, Ohlone College, the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District, and the Los Angeles Community College District. SunPower has more than 750 large solar power systems in operation or under contract globally.