You're invited - Solar Array media day and ceremony

​All employees are invited to remarks and a brief ceremony commemorating the solar array installation. 

It will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the solar array.

Representatives from Renewable Energy Evoltion, LLC, and the financier for the project, Dr. Sarode Pundaleeka, are attending.

The array, which includes five rows of 540-watt solar panels, will produce over 1,300 megawatt hours of energy, or about 8% of the total electricity consumed annually on KCC's Riverfront Campus, said Brian Maillet, founder and CEO of REE.

The system is designed to produce clean energy with no pollution or emissions. Low-growth, native vegetation around the solar array was incorporated during installation. The plantings will support habitats for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles, which are crucial for agriculture. 

For the first six years the array is used, KCC will have a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in place. With the PPA, KCC pays a reduced rate to use the energy produced by the solar array. As an example, Maillet said KCC has a $0.015/kWh rate in year one. The rate rises 1.7% each year of the 6-year term. After the PPA is completed, the energy will no longer have a cost.