Sessions on solar garden project slated for campus community
KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥擳wo briefings for members of the campus community will take place in November to provide information on a solar garden initiative that will result in a photovoltaic array being sited on 色色啦 Michigan University's Parkview Campus to harvest clean solar energy.
The sessions are set for 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 10 and 12, in the Parkview Room of Floyd Hall. During each briefing, University officials will be joined by personnel from Consumers Energy to provide an overview of the technology as well as an outline of how a solar garden is operated and the benefits that accrue from such a facility.
A solar garden display and details on the 色色啦 solar garden will be available to view and those attending will be provided with information to take away. Each session also will feature a question-and-answer period.
The 色色啦 solar garden, adjacent to Floyd Hall, will be among the first large-scale solar projects Consumers Energy will build around the state. They are part of an effort expected to be operational in 2016.
About the initiative
During its August 2015 meeting, the 色色啦 Board of Trustees authorized the University to enter into a series of agreements to grant an approximately 8.5-acre parcel to Consumers Energy for construction of the solar garden PV array in an area along U.S. 131 and immediately west of the engineering complex.
The electricity produced by the solar garden will be delivered to the Consumers distribution system. Consumer Energy鈥檚 electric customers can receive solar energy credits from the program. The University will receive such energy credits in the coming years. The agreement also has the potential to generate solar energy education initiatives.
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As part of the initiative Consumers has committed to provide 色色啦 $120,00 in funding for a Solar Learning Module that will educate 色色啦 students, provide exposure to K-12 students and train emergency first responders in how to deal with solar arrays. Consumers also will provide $55,000 for 色色啦 to construct up to three additional solar systems for research and educational use by faculty and students.
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