Author: Damian Mendieta
Occidental College has still not received the necessary permits for its $7 million solar array project, which school officials expected to have late last month. Director of Communications Jim Tranquada said the permits should now be ready by the end of this month, and construction is expected to begin on Fiji and the upper soccer field parking lot as soon as the City of Los Angeles grants approval.
One of the reasons for the delay is that the solar array system requires not just one, but several permits. Electrical wiring, parking lot construction and fire hazards are approved independently.
“There are a variety of permits that we need,” Tranquada said. “Each one of those involves a separate conversation.”
Permit discussion has caused some of Occidental’s original building plans to be challenged and delayed by the city. Occidental planned to construct eight-inch diameter steel pilings, but the city called for larger base foundations to the hillside array.
“We thought eight-inch diameter pilings would be necessary,” Tranquada said. “The city insisted on 12-inch. To us we see that as overbuilding.” Additionally, the city may require that the college install a roof in between the solar panels and cars in the parking lot. “
The city’s demands have added to the permit delays and Tranquada said the college already expected the process to progress slowly.
“Dealing with the City of Los Angeles can be complex and sometime unpredictable,” Tranquada said. “Unfortunately, it’s not a simple matter of going up to a counter, signing some paper work and you’re all done.
Although the project will cost $7 million, Occidental will only end up paying half of the cost; the rest of the tab will be covered by a $3.5 million rebate from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) as soon as construction is completed.
The solar array will be situated on Fiji and the upper soccer field parking lot because maximum solar exposure is critical for the efficiency of the array. An electrical maintenance facility is close in the proximity and the hook ups to the electrical grid there are more practical. The solar array would save the college approximately $250,000 per year, according to Tranquada. The savings will help payback the cost of the project.
Professor Dan Snowden-Ifft has been a key advocate for the construction of Occidental’s own solar panel system. He began lobbying two years ago after joining the college’s sustainability committee. He also chaired a solar subcommittee that included Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Michael Stephens, Director of UEPI Mark Vallianatos and former physics professor Adrian Hightower. Advocacy from the sustainability committee and administration officials led to the subcommittee hearing seven different presentations from installers over the summer of 2009.
The solar subcommittee decided upon the highest energy-efficient panels, Sunpower, while Martifer Solar will be the installer. Sunpower is also offering a 40 cents per watt with a maximum of $2000 off of installation for personal solar panels. Students and their families, alumni and employees will have access to these savings. All families and small business in Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington and Highland Park are also eligible.
Contact professor Snowden-Ifft (ifft@oxy.edu) or visit www.sunpowercorp.com/asp/occidental for more information.
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