Project Focus: SunPower finishes solar power system on Mendocino campus

Bank of America, Mendocino College and SunPower Corp. have announced the completion of a of a 929kW solar power system on Mendocino's Ukiah campus. Bank of America financed the solar power system, which is expected to save Mendocino College US$14 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years. The system was built in four months and uses SunPower solar panels equipped with the SunPower Tracker system.

"It makes sense to use the clean, renewable resource of the sun to power our schools sustainably," said Mike Adams, Director of Facilities Planning for Mendocino College. "SunPower's high-efficiency technology is maximizing the amount of sunlight that is converted to electricity for our operations and the cost savings that we will achieve as a result."

"Colleges and universities in California are seizing the opportunity to help the state meet its growing energy demand and renewable energy goals," said Bill Kelly, Managing Director of SunPower. "Mendocino College understands the significant return on investment that SunPower systems deliver, and the added value of working with an experienced partner."

Currently, SunPower has over 550 solar power systems operating or under contract world-wide. Other California community colleges the company has built plants on include Ohlone College, Napa Valley College, the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District and the Los Angeles Community College District.

Bank of America has committed US$20 billion over a 10-year stretch in response to global climate change by financing solar power for California K-12 schools and community colleges such as the San Jose Unified School District and Butte-Glenn Community College.

Neal Skiver, senior vice president for West Region energy services originations at Bank of America Public Capital Corp, said, "We have been pleased to work with Mendocino College and SunPower to take another step along the path toward efficient and renewable energy. This project is representative of Bank of America's continued commitment to investing in renewable energy projects and the ongoing opportunities that exist for us to help clients save money while reducing carbon emissions. In addition to the renewable energy generation with its associated environmental attributes, doing these projects with schools and colleges provides the added educational benefit of students being able to see first-hand the use of solar energy to help the environment."