After thorough discussion, research, and public comment, the VCCCD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion at the August Board Meeting to construct and install underlit solar carports on existing parking lots at Ventura, Oxnard, and Moorpark colleges. This dovetails with the Board of Trustees’ adoption of Resolution in Support of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability in April, which outlined support of future initiatives to positively impact sustainability and climate change.
In their comments, Trustees mentioned the benefits of cost savings to the District and the environmental benefits of a reduced carbon footprint.
"For many students, questions of sustainability are real and immediate in ways that we have not seen before," said Trustee Josh Chancer. "Climate change is going to have significant impacts in their own lifetimes. The energy and enthusiasm of students for our environment can lead the rest of us in the right direction and I am pleased that the Board has taken this significant step forward."
The three colleges will have a combined eight megawatts of solar power generation. Ventura College’s underlit solar carports will be installed at two existing parking lots, and Oxnard College will have its solar carport located at Parking Lot H, on the north/northwest perimeter of campus. The Moorpark College solar carports will be located on the campus’s north and northeast sides. Each college will have pre-installed conduit in preparation for potential future installation of Electric Vehicle charging stations.
Construction at the campuses is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed before the end of the year.