Cochise College will host an open house for a new photovoltaic facility on the Douglas Campus at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 24. The event is open to the public.
Located between the baseball field and the service entrance, the project is a collaboration with Eternax Solar, SPG Solar and APS. It is expected to generate 720,000 kilowatts of power annually and will help offset costs to power the campus. Externax is financing the $2 million project and will earn green credits for APS. In addition, the college will purchase electricity at a 9 percent discount. After 20 years, the college will have the option to own the facility and the energy it generates.
“Cochise College is demonstrating their leadership and commitment toward securing a sustainable future for their students and community,” says Thomas Rooney, chief executive officer at SPG Solar. “We applaud Cochise College’s vision for their campus and are honored to partner with them on this project. The ground-mounted SunSeeker® Tracker will provide years of clean, renewable energy for the campus.”
The site is situated on two to three acres, and if the project is successful, it could expand, said Kevin Butler, Cochise College vice president for administration. A kiosk powered by a solar panel and wind turbine will show live and historical information about how the system is performing.
The college also is developing curriculum for a Green Building Certificate that will be part of the building construction technology program. Six courses are planned in Introduction to Green Building, Renewable Energy Technologies, Sustainable Environmental Systems, Sustainable Structural Systems, Sustainable Site Development and Energy Auditing and Modeling.
The photovoltaic facility is the second solar project on the campus that will help the college save money and reduce its reliance on traditional power sources. The initial project, a partnership with APS that was dedicated in 2006, was a solar trough system used to heat and cool parts of the Douglas Campus. The project saved the college about $20,000 in utility costs this past year.
The June 24 open house will include tours of both sites. Parking will be available via the service entrance. Hats and walking shoes are recommended.
For more information, call (520) 417-4148. Anyone needing an accommodation in order to attend should contact the Office of Disability Services, (520) 515-5337 or (520) 417-4023, at least 72 hours in advance.