Davis Building Largest Solar Plant In UC System To Power Campus Buildings

DAVIS (CBS SF) - The University Of California at Davis plans to build a major new solar instillation to generate roughly 14 percent of the campus' energy, a feat university officials are calling "the largest solar power plant to offset the electricity demand of a U.S. university or college campus."

The University say that, upon completion of the 16-megawatt plant next year, one third of the campus' electrical needs will come from carbon neutral sources.

"UC Davis is already a national and international leader in sustainability, but this new project truly puts us in a league of our own," UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said. "We are pleased to join with SunPower in making this solar plant a reality and hope that the success of this public/private partnership spurs similar initiatives at universities across the country."

The plant will be built on a 70 acre site that is separated from the main campus by Interstate 80. SunPower will own and operate the site. Davis administrators say they view the instillation as a hedge against future utility rate increases.