L.A. College Plugs in to Solar Farm

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Community College District started construction of a $9 million photovoltaic solar farm at East Los Angeles College that will produce one megawatt of electricity.

The project marks to first phase of LACCD’s plan to take all nine of its colleges off the grid by making them energy independent and carbon emissions neutral through on-site renewable energy generation, officials says.

The college plans to augment and diversify its renewable energy generation capabilities by using excess electricity produced during daytime hours to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cells would then be used to provide energy during evening and nighttime hours, officials say.

The photovoltaic farm is being designed and built by Chevron Energy Solutions under a 20-year solar power service agreement with the college district, which serves nearly 190,000 students.

The district is in the middle of a $2.2 billion facility construction and modernization program, which is one of the largest public sector environmentally sustainable building initiatives in the United States. Officials expect construction to be completed by the end of 2007.