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LOS ANGELES — (April 22, 2008) Celebrating Earth Day in style, hundreds of students, faculty and community members were on hand at East Los Angeles College (ELAC) to join officials as they “powered up” the campus' new solar project today. The $9 million 1.2 Megawatt (MW) project, which will provide almost half of the college’s daytime power needs, is part of the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) Renewable Energy Plan and is a major component in the sustained effort to take all nine of its colleges “off the grid.”

ELAC’s solar project is the largest solar facility within the district and marks the first major milestone in the LACCD's ambitious plan to declare its energy independence. When completed, LACCD’s project will comprise one of the largest urban solar generation facilities in the United States.

"We are excited about ELAC's solar project as it gives us an opportunity to focus on the District's commitment to building green, and to preparing our students for the coming green economy," said Dr. Marshall Drummond, chancellor, Los Angeles Community College District. “This project is a major step forward in our plan to self-generate power at each of our campuses."

At the ceremony, Southern California Edison presented the District and ELAC with a check representing a $2.8 million financial incentive from the company’s Self Generation Incentive Program. Southern California Edison worked closely with LACCD throughout the process, and their Incentive Program – which offers customers installing up to 1 MW of solar panels a financial incentive that can be used to offset the cost of the system – made it possible for the ELAC project to become a reality.

"ELAC's solar farm is a tremendous reminder that the Board's decision to move forward with our Energy plan was a great decision,” said Sylvia Scott-Hayes, president, Board of Trustees, Los Angeles Community College District. “With ELAC's solar project and other projects across the District, we are building a new generation of highly-skilled, trained workers and are having a dramatic impact on the lives of so many young people who count on the resources provided by LACCD.”

The clean, renewable energy produced by ELAC's solar farm will meet nearly 45 percent of the college’s energy needs by generating 1.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving ELAC an estimated $270,000 annually. The Photovoltaic (PV) Farm, located in the Northwest Parking Lot, is compromised of 5,952 solar panels installed atop seven large-scale carports, which provide space for 530 vehicles. The solar project and generators occupy three acres and have a life expectancy of at least 40 years.

The ELAC solar project, a partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions (CES), MMA Renewable Ventures and Southern California Edison, is a successful example of how public and private agencies can work together to meet sustainability goals.

"We applaud East Los Angeles College and the LACCD for their leadership in bringing solar power to the campus," said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. "This project is a great example of how sustainable energy development can yield benefits for the environment and education.""ELAC is helping lead a nationwide movement to bring new levels of environmental sustainability to our college campuses," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "From the advanced solar technology to the innovative finance approach used to employ it, this system embodies the forward-looking spirit and youthful energy of the ELAC community."

Hundreds of attendees showed their support by donning organic green T-shirts and sunglasses at the official “Flip the Switch” ceremony. Other festivities included an eco-house designed by ELAC students and awareness materials promoting sun power and environmental stewardship to East Los Angeles’ underserved community. Through the solar project and numerous other curriculum initiatives, the LACCD is training Los Angeles’ students to fill the “Green Collar” jobs in the 21st century economy.

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