CSUCI Solar Farm
Driving down the picturesque main entrance road, it’s almost impossible to ignore the 12,000 solar panels that proudly stretch across 14 acres of floodplain. One of the largest solar panel systems within the CSU, it brings the University even closer to its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
To build the solar farm, the University entered into a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an energy developer. In the agreement, the developer pays all installation and maintenance costs and CSUCI commits to purchasing all energy generated by the solar for the 30-year contract period. The energy will be purchased at a fixed unit rate that is lower than what the University currently pays for electricity from other utility providers.
“This will result in immediate first-year savings and a projected $8 million in cumulative savings to the campus over 30 years,” said Tom Hunt, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Services.
“Another benefit of the solar agreement is that it provides stability for electricity costs,” added Roxane Beigel-Coryell, CSUCI’s Sustainability and Energy Director. “It provides the University with a stable, contracted rate for the power generated by the solar, reducing the impacts of utility rate increases on campus budgeting.”
The solar is anticipated to provide approximately 68% of the campus electricity need on an annual basis. At peak times during the day, the solar array generates up to 3.75 megawatts of power, which is enough electricity to power 595 homes and is more electricity than the campus consumes. Any excess power generated by the solar that is not used by the campus is fed back to the power grid and the campus receives a small financial credit. The array makes CSUCI one of the largest producers of green energy in the California State University system, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and results in significant cost savings for the campus.
Visit CSUCI’s Solar Dashboard to view how much energy the system is generating.
CSUCI Joins the EPA Green Power Partnership
CSUCI joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership in March 2023, celebrating one full year of solar power generation! CSUCI is one of only eight colleges in the Green Power Partnership. By choosing green power, CSUCI is helping to advance the voluntary market for green power and development of these sources. By moving the needle forward in the voluntary green power market, CSUCI and other Green Power Partners are helping to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions, including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain and regional haze.
Solar Field Tours
If you’re interested in touring the solar field, please contact CI’s Sustainability & Energy Director at 805-437-3232 or email roxane.bc@csuci.edu.