Cal State Long Beach to Install Carport Solar Power System in Two Parking Lots
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) announced today the construction of a Carport Solar System in Lot 7 on the south side of campus and in Lot 14 in the northwest section of campus. The university will purchase the solar power generated by the system which will offset approximately 15 percent of the campus’ electrical load.
“CSULB is proud to support California and the nation in our transition to clean and renewable energy sources to fight climate change and its negative effects on our students, staff and community by increasing our reliance on solar power,” said David Salazar, associate vice president of physical planning and facilities management.
The 4.8 megawatt carport solar system is produced by SunPower®, a leader in the field that works with residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities. In addition to generating power, the system will also provide shade and 50 electric vehicle charging stations to the campus community. The system is expected to be operational by the end of 2017 and CSULB will own the renewable energy credits. SunPower estimates that one year of solar energy produced by the CSULB system could power more than 2,200 electric vehicles for 30 years or 1,200 average California homes per year.
An example of a SunPower Helix carport solar system
As part of its commitment to sustainability, CSULB has three operating solar power systems currently on campus, but this project will by far be the largest solar power system to be installed on campus and within the 23 campus CSU system to date. The installation of the carport solar system in Lots 7 and 14 is the university’s latest effort to reduce consumption of electricity by continuing to implement energy efficiency measures while also increasing the share of energy consumed that comes from renewable sources.
In December, 2014, under the leadership of university President Jane Close Conoley, CSULB committed to reaching a goal of climate neutrality by 2030. To achieve that goal, the university has in place a Sustainability Task Force, an advisory body comprised of faculty, staff and students that oversees a range of activities to reduce campus environmental impact, including energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable food service and waste reduction and recycling.
Please click here for more information about CSULB’s ongoing sustainability efforts.
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About California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a teaching-intensive, research-driven university committed to providing highly-valued undergraduate and graduate degrees critical for success in the globally-minded 21st century. Annually ranked among the best universities in the West and among the best values in the entire nation, the university’s eight colleges serve more than 37,500 students. CSULB values and is recognized for rich educational opportunities provided by excellent faculty and staff, exceptional degree programs, diversity of its student body, fiduciary and administrative responsibility and the positive contributions faculty, staff, students and more than 300,000 alumni make on society.
About SunPower
As one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower’s more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.
