Spring 2009 Greenpower Grant award winner
EWEB's 2,800 Greenpower customers voted to award Lane Community College the inaugural
$100,000 Greenpower Grant from the Eugene Water & Electric Board. LCC was among five finalists for the grant.
LCC hired Eugene-based SOLARC Architecture and Engineering to design and engineer the solar-powered electric
vehicle charging station for student and community use, as well as for study and research.
The project includes
a platform with 75 to 80 kilowatts of grid inter-tied solar electric panels, and up to 36 electric vehicle charging
stations on the main campus in south Eugene. The panels also will create a covered parking area.
The Greenpower grant will be combined with some of the college's bond funds to create this sustainable transportation
infrastructure and solar technology research station. The project is projected to be completed by summer 2010.
Read a summary of Lane Community College's grant application
LCC's project will create a learning example of a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station for
students and the community to use and study. This project includes a platform with 75 to 80 kilowatts of grid
inter-tied solar electric panels and 36 electric vehicle charging stations on the main campus.
The panels also will create a covered parking area. This project leverages about 1 percent of funds
from Lane's recently passed bond ($700,000) to be used with the EWEB grant to create this sustainable
transportation infrastructure and solar technology research station.
The project's primary goals are as follows:
-
Create opportunities for students to learn how to install, repair, and service the solar electric
and vehicle infrastructure necessary for our community to establish a lower carbon footprint.
- Generate renewable energy.
- Help transform the local community to use plug-in electric vehicles.
The project will serve LCC students and the community at large. Students will directly benefit from the
infrastructure's use as a learning lab. This hands-on learning experience will help them develop skills
for a variety of careers aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
EWEB will benefit from a trained workforce that can build systems to recharge vehicles with minimum
impact to the electrical system and environment. Everyone will experience the immediate benefit of
reduced carbon emissions and better local air quality.
See EWEB's website for more information on how LCC's project will help EWEB achieve its mission of
meeting the community's present and long-term energy needs and will benefit the citizens of Eugene.
Read Lane Community College's complete application