Download the Press Release 
November 20, 2003
Joined by community and environmental leaders, officials of Pierce College in Woodland Hills and the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) officially launched the college’s extensive green power program by flipping the switch on a new solar electric system and microturbines that will reduce its electricity purchases by approximately 30 percent and its energy costs by approximately $180,000 annually.
“Pierce College is proud to celebrate the first step in our efforts to transform our college into a more environmentally friendly, clean campus,” said Rocky Young, president of Pierce College. “Our environmental leadership will help preserve the beauty of our campus and the surrounding community, improve efficiency, reduce emissions and save taxpayer dollars.”
At a press conference attended by city, business, environmental and education leaders, President Young officially began operating a 191-kilowatt (kW) on-site solar generation system, which features 1,274 photovoltaic solar panels, and a 360-kW cogeneration system comprised of six microturbines. The solar generation system is an innovative carport structure that enables Pierce College to generate much of its own clean power, while also providing shade and overhead protection from the elements for student vehicles. The natural-gas fueled microturbine system generates electricity for the campus and recovers waste heat energy that is used to chill water for the college air conditioning system.
The installation of an additional four 30-kW microturbines valued at $1 million, which were donated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and began operating this fall was also celebrated at the press conference as part of the first step toward Pierce College’s environmental leadership. The microturbines are connected to a heat recovery system that is being used to heat the college’s outdoor pool and enhance the efficiency of the microturbine system.
The solar electric system and 10 microturbines will generate approximately 4.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to power 600 homes. The solar panels and microturbines will reduce Pierce College’s demand for purchased power during peak periods by about 25 percent.
The $4.1 million project cost was offset by over $2 million in state and municipal rebates. The balance was paid with funding from Proposition A, a facilities bond that was approved by voters within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) in April 2001.
Chevron Energy Solutions served as general contractor on the project and provided engineering, energy analysis and turn-key construction services. Powerlight Corporation manufactured and designed the solar electric parking system, and Capstone Turbine manufactured the microturbines. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) provided rebates for the solar panels, and Southern California Gas provided rebates for the solar panel and microturbine projects through the State of California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program.
“Chevron Energy Solutions is pleased to help Pierce College maintain resources through projects that reduce energy costs and help the environment,” said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit within ChevronTexaco (NYSE:CVX). “Through a performance contract that guarantees future energy savings and secures rebate funding, the college is able to benefit from energy improvements without having to invest any capital – so that those funds can be available for other uses, like education.”
The installation of the solar panels and microturbines is the first of Pierce College’s many green initiatives, including among others:
- In October, Pierce College dedicated a 1.9-acre botanical garden that features native, drought-resistant plants that require little water.
- Pierce College is helping the Las Virgenes Water District by maintaining 30 acres of land, which is used for the college’s agricultural program.
- A new Center for the Sciences is planned for completion in 2007, and is being designed to meet Silver LEED-certified guidelines set by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a distinction which few buildings in the nation have achieved.
- Pierce College is working with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and LADWP to bring reclaimed water from the Tillman Treatment Center for the college’s agricultural and landscape water needs.
- Pierce College installed a water retention pond that doubles as a soccer field. Runoff water from the adjacent parking lot flows into the pond, where it filters into the ground.
Pierce College’s green power program is part of the college’s 10-year master plan to transform the college into a 21st century gateway to opportunity that will better serve students and the communities within the San Fernando Valley that surround the campus.
Other master plan improvements include the construction of new buildings, modernization of existing facilities and upgrades to campus infrastructure and grounds. The new construction, modernization and renovation projects are funded by Propositions A and AA, which were overwhelmingly approved by voters for improvements at all of the LACCD’s nine community colleges.
