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College to Save $150M By Going "Grid Positive"

greenbiz.com -- Butte College in Northern California will begin generating more renewable energy next year than it uses, saving the school an estimated $150 million over the next 30 years.

The Butte College Board of Trustees gave the campus the go-ahead to finish a major solar energy project next year that will push the school's generating capacity to 4.55 megawatts (DC)..

Roughly 15,000 photovoltaic panels will cover parking spaces and roofs to generate the green power..in addition to 10,000 existing solar panels that now generate 1.85 MW..will make Butte College the only college in the U.S. that produces more solar energy on-site than it uses.

The project will ..provide job training to students. The school also offers coursework in green building, solar hot water installation, and energy fundam

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Submitted Sep 06, 2010 By: teafortwo

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1006 All-Star Author Birmingham Posts:930 Points:1,028,490 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 6:42:46 AM Ignore 1006 Report Abuse good for them. Is this really productive? [Edited by: 1006 at 9/8/2010 6:44:11 AM EST]
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,266 Points:1,142,300 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 6:57:01 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse best way to teach the next generation? Show them a positive example that puts money back into the students' pockets (by keeping operating costs low, tuition will be lower).
vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,018 Points:117,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:09:58 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse "..and this has what to do with the price of fuel or cars ? " Saves oil so you can put it in your snowmobile.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,701 Points:1,655,795 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 8:31:17 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Other colleges, take note!
gasforus Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,779 Points:1,727,615 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 7:34:42 AM Ignore gasforus Report Abuse Old news yesterday!
RogerB Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:15,237 Points:2,163,045 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 7:15:08 AM Ignore RogerB Report Abuse >> Do these panels last forever? Esp in the weather and outdoors.If they wear out in 10-15yrs,you would never get your money back. They last much longed than that, at least 30 - 40 yrs. The greatest thing is, however - that no fuel is being burned! This would be great in places like Hawaii where most Electricity comes from fuel oil!
SAVEITIL Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,940 Points:703,615 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:37:53 AM Ignore SAVEITIL Report Abuse Just bring college costs down.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,844 Points:758,900 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:14:28 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Who cares about money any more. Obama will have the mint print more of it.
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:6,177 Points:1,852,230 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:07:35 AM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse This is a lot of money.
Wizrd03 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,776 Points:1,166,185 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:04:49 AM Ignore Wizrd03 Report Abuse So will they pay back the 12 million they got from the feds to put the system in?
abfpat Champion Author Illinois Posts:25,868 Points:3,851,645 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:02:52 AM Ignore abfpat Report Abuse 150 Million? WOW
lightbulbman2008 Champion Author Worcester Posts:187,400 Points:1,120,175 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 2:00:33 AM Ignore lightbulbman2008 Report Abuse good work.!!!!
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:3,298 Points:1,099,495 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:54:43 AM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse ..and this has what to do with the price of fuel or cars ?
NOTSOGRN Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,288 Points:1,084,190 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:49:30 AM Ignore NOTSOGRN Report Abuse To GRN to be true but, in a state thats short on power they should make a buck if can over produce.
Jeannemarie Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:26,922 Points:1,944,585 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:46:07 AM Ignore Jeannemarie Report Abuse We have a solar panel thing at UNLV and the new buildings they are putting up at Nevada State College are getting them as well. Go, go, go Rebels.
ex911 Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,844 Points:1,339,770 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:34:43 AM Ignore ex911 Report Abuse hope more institutions sit up and take notice, that'll free up the grid for all the plug-in electric vehicles coming up
Scotty99QC Veteran Author Montreal Posts:275 Points:74,950 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:33:45 AM Ignore Scotty99QC Report Abuse Another enegy source , GOOD!
bobdec Champion Author Florida Posts:6,716 Points:1,324,615 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:26:11 AM Ignore bobdec Report Abuse More schools and businesses need to do the same
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:6,895 Points:1,370,985 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:21:35 AM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Sounds like "smoke and mirrors" according to the article.
Gerg001 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:2,517 Points:908,495 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:20:59 AM Ignore Gerg001 Report Abuse More schools could do the same.
genef01 Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,611 Points:834,680 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:19:25 AM Ignore genef01 Report Abuse Good for Butte College. The plan seems a little ambitious, if they can pull it off, they will be leaders in green technology.
LostToo Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,120 Points:716,680 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:16:55 AM Ignore LostToo Report Abuse The numbers are smoky the idea is ok but I find the info to be flawed.
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:4,378 Points:896,175 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:14:54 AM Ignore comprof Report Abuse A lot of money up front and it sounds great. It will be interesting in a few years to see if it really saved money.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:1,303,335 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:10:32 AM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse They have cheap labor for this and on hand training. Smart, VERY SMART.
roadrunnerMO Champion Author Kansas Posts:5,996 Points:1,234,235 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:09:06 AM Ignore roadrunnerMO Report Abuse Good business decision. Did not involve millionaires in washington either.
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:5,324 Points:1,010,350 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 1:05:12 AM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Smart!!!
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:6,211 Points:1,234,555 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:57:22 AM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Good for them!
CRAZYEDDIE2010 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:294 Points:204,185 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:54:12 AM Ignore CRAZYEDDIE2010 Report Abuse GOOD ON YA!!!!!!!!!!!
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:12,310 Points:1,172,725 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:53:34 AM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse Haha, better they produce electricity because no one of any import graduates from old Butte U. It's way up on Northern Edge of California. Maybe lumberjacks go to that school.
jwalkerh Champion Author Louisiana Posts:4,313 Points:1,009,905 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:50:59 AM Ignore jwalkerh Report Abuse Thsi is great news.
esorsd Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,498 Points:1,185,840 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:49:04 AM Ignore esorsd Report Abuse Good for them.
jackson661 Champion Author Columbus Posts:2,783 Points:1,047,190 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:49:02 AM Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse Saving money..creating jobs..renewable energy..win..win
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,701 Points:1,058,285 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:44:23 AM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse Is that saving after paying for the panels or are the panels free?
aldog365 Champion Author Nashville Posts:3,150 Points:1,559,710 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:43:17 AM Ignore aldog365 Report Abuse Do these panels last forever? Esp in the weather and outdoors.If they wear out in 10-15yrs,you would never get your money back.
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:21,174 Points:2,640,570 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:40:54 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse wow, 17 million is a big investment - will be interesting to see if their 30 year figures pan out.
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:20,218 Points:2,805,175 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:36:53 AM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse OK
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:7,339 Points:1,438,710 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:36:12 AM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse it is a great idea
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:6,050 Points:1,816,515 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:32:55 AM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse Nice laboratory program that also saves the College money. Let hear the real numbers when the project is completed
JoseM All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:890 Points:605,010 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:32:36 AM Ignore JoseM Report Abuse Sound like a hard number to hit, hope they do it.
ifallsguy Champion Author Minnesota Posts:4,425 Points:1,213,780 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:28:45 AM Ignore ifallsguy Report Abuse let's see the real numbers when it goes online
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:7,577 Points:1,322,705 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:25:38 AM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse curious to see the actual 15 year return on investment
Eichhornchen Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,772 Points:747,390 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:24:32 AM Ignore Eichhornchen Report Abuse Interesting, generating more than it uses
runout9 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,149 Points:959,675 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:23:38 AM Ignore runout9 Report Abuse Totally irrelevant to this forum.
ACTown Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,856 Points:1,120,605 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:23:15 AM Ignore ACTown Report Abuse Great idea for all to do.
Sisu58 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:832 Points:185,225 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:15:54 AM Ignore Sisu58 Report Abuse Spending 17 million, plus the low interest rate/length of loan)? Saving 150 million minus the total cost of the project and loan = ballpark figure maybe $132 million saved? Without details, but it sounds like a good deal.
CobraLeader Champion Author New Jersey Posts:267,902 Points:1,200,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:15:14 AM Ignore CobraLeader Report Abuse ... Are they going to recharge the staff's vehicles when parked? ...
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:6,165 Points:1,225,615 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:12:42 AM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse This should be an interesting test for viability for other institutions around the country.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:3,545 Points:390,660 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:11:27 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Now here is a school that is settimg you up for a future job in the energy field. Nothing better than hands-on experience. Not to say that book-learning is not important. However, I could do without the art,geography, history of the world & such.
chocolateflash Champion Author San Diego Posts:12,351 Points:2,224,220 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:11:23 AM Ignore chocolateflash Report Abuse Butte County, where Butte Community College is located, is a VERY rural area, primarily rice paddies and some almond orchards. Having lived in Butte City for five years I can honestly say that anything that Butte College does is better than what it's doing now. Using solar power--more power to it(little pun there). Now if they could eliminate the area as the mosquito capital of the world, that would be something useful.
CumminsFanOH Champion Author Columbus Posts:1,670 Points:827,990 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 12:10:47 AM Ignore CumminsFanOH Report Abuse Is this a wild optimistic guess?