Nov 22 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Natasha Lindstrom Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.


Strapped for cash and searching for creative ways to generate revenue, Victor Valley College officials are planning to partner with a private energy company to construct a $7 million solar plant on vacant campus land.

The solar plant is expected to pay for itself through energy savings within five years and pump $22.1 million back into the college's general funds over 25 years, according to estimates by the college's program manager, Al McQuilkin of gkkworks.

"The bottom line is we want to save money," said VVC President Robert Silverman, along with creating opportunities for students to learn about the solar industry.

The energy conservation facility, which will be built within a 10-acre vacant parcel on the far northeast side of the college's main campus, is expected to generate about 1 megawatt of electricity per year, or roughly one-third of the college's average electricity.

The energy savings and incentive credits will offer the college a steady source of income as the state looks to make deep cuts to close billions of dollars in shortfalls over the next several years.

"Our goal is to generate alternate sources of revenue. We've got to reduce our reliance upon Sacramento," Silverman said. "If we can bring in $22 million in 25 years, at least that's stable, it's predictable. The state of California is anything but predictable."

The VVC Board of Trustees, which has approved the solar plant's concept, is set to award a contract to the company whose proposal demonstrates the best value at the Dec. 8 meeting.

Under the approved plan, the project cannot exceed $7 million, including maintenance and operation costs over the first 10 years. The installation will be funded through a combination of the college's capital, reserves and bond measure funds.

The selected developer must also provide training workshops and introductory lessons on solar technology to prepare interested students for careers in the solar industry.

The move fits into Silverman's pledge to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, which requires VVC to come up with an action plan to become "climate neutral." In recent years the college paid nearly $7 million to Chevron Energ y Solutions LP for retrofitting lights, windows, air conditioning and other campus systems.

In 2007 the college board had also approved a 314-foot wind turbine for the campus, which sparked concerns from Spring Valley Lake residents over its visual impact, but the turbine was nixed after Chevron couldn't fulfill its contract, according to VVC spokesman Bill Greulich.

The college's planned Eastside Public Safety Training Center in Apple Valley, the first major project to be funded by the voter-approved bond Measure JJ, is set to produce 50 percent of its own power through solar panels and energy-saving designs when it opens in late 2011.

Officials anticipate the solar plant will undergo construction in early 2010 and be operational by spring.

Natasha Lindstrom may be

reached at (760) 951-6232 or at nlindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.

(c) 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services