With construction slated to begin this July, this will be the first large commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) system for a San Diego university.

After an extensive competitive proposal review process, PLNU selected SPG Solar, Inc. to design and install the solar energy system which will produce 80 percent of the peak energy for six major PLNU buildings: Bond Academic Center, Cooper Music Center, Fermanian School of Business, Golden Gym, Goodwin Hall, and Hendricks Hall. In total, more than 50 percent of the buildings' annual electricity costs will be offset by clean, solar power.

The 450 kW system, comprised entirely of Kyocera solar modules, will also reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 586 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually that would have been emitted from a traditional fossil-fuel power plant - the equivalent to removing 110 cars off the road for one year or requiring 130 acres of trees to absorb that much CO2.

PLNU was able to finance the system through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) provided by Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPP). Under the PPA, SPP will own the solar system for 20 years and sell the clean energy generated by the system to PLNU at a cost below present utility rates. PLNU has no upfront capital costs for the system and enjoys fixed electricity rates for 20 years.

"These are exciting times for Point Loma Nazarene University. One of PLNU's core values is the 'stewardship of resources.' The faculty, students and alumni have wholeheartedly embraced the charge to reduce our carbon footprint and adopt a movement for a more sustainable campus. This solar panel project moves us closer to our goal of being a carbon neutral campus," said Bob Brower, Ph.D., PLNU's president.

The 450 kW photovoltaic system will serve as the first wave of solar for PLNU, with hopes to install additional systems throughout the campus. Solar power is the latest step in a series of efforts to make the PLNU campus more sustainable, starting with the initiation of a comprehensive single-stream recycling and composting program in 2003.

PLNU also has a president-appointed Resource Stewardship Task Force and a full-time sustainability coordinator. In 2007, PLNU signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and chose all new building and remodeling projects to be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver qualifications.

"It's been exciting to see PLNU's leadership in sustainability develop to the point where corporations and other universities are using our program as a model for their green efforts," said PLNU's sustainability coordinator Kristin Hansen. "We've given tours of our recycling and food composting programs to both public and private institutions. The solar panel installation will also serve as a model in sustainable practices to our community." Community
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