Pacific Power, through its Blue Sky renewable energy program, recently awarded Central Oregon Community College a $160,000 grant that will help pay for a solar array on top of the proposed Allied Sciences Building.
The grant will help fund a 62-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array atop the three-story building. Assuming a successful November 2008 bond measure vote, construction could begin in 2010. The building would be dedicated to science and health career education and house classes on renewable energy studies. The building itself will be as energy efficient as possible and model renewable energy values.
The students of COCC have dedicated a portion of their fees to ensure that by using Blue Sky, the college buys renewable power equal to 100 percent of COCC’s electricity use. COCC was the first community college in the nation to take such a step.
