CSU Signs Deal With SunEdison for Solar Power

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s Department of General Services struck a deal with SunEdison to install and maintain solar panels on 15 California State University campuses through the next 20 years.

Under the deal, SunEdison will install solar arrays and sell power back to the campuses at or below market prices.

“With this partnership, we are seeing more tangible results and more follow through in reducing our state’s carbon footprint,” Schwarzenegger says. “This partnership is a good deal for the state, the planet and our economy – all at no cost to taxpayers.”

The panels will be installed on rooftops, parking canopies and ground-mounted podiums at the universities. The panels are expected to generate about 12 million kilowatt hours of clean renewable energy in the first year.

The system is scheduled to be in place by the end of 2009, and will boost the amount of electricity the CSU system receives from green sources from 20 percent to 25 percent.

The contract can be voided for any reason during the first five years, and there is the option to extend it after the contract has expired. SunEdison competed against several other bidders for the lease, CSU officials say.

“Eight megawatts of affordable renewable energy is a good deal for the CSU and the planet,” says Len Pettis, chief of plant, energy and utilities at the CSU chancellor’s office.

Pettis says the agreement will offset approximately 9,485 metric tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of removing 48,937 cars from the road.

The campuses that will receive the panels include: CA Maritime Academy, CSU Bakersfield, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Chico, CSU Fullerton, CSU Humboldt, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Monterey Bay, CSU Pomona, CSU Sacramento, CSU San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses, CSU San Francisco, CSU San Marcos, CSU Stanislaus, and the CSU Chancellor’s office.