The University will begin the installation of solar panels on Matt Knight Arena and the Moshofsky Center in the coming months as part of a continuing effort to increase renewable energy on campus.
The solar panels, which are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2012,  are part of a project from the Oregon University System, entitled “Solar by Degrees.” Started six years ago by former Gov. Ted Kulongoski, the project aims to increase solar and other energy resources on each of the state’s seven public university campuses.
Bob Simonton, OUS assistant vice chancellor for capital programs, has been working on the issue since the beginning.
“I’d been looking for solutions and I came up with the idea of pursuing renewable energy alternatives,” Simonton said. “We put all the options together and came up with what is the best path to become renewable powered.”
OUS’s move to buy local is a crucial show of support for the struggling solar manufacturing industry in Oregon. The solar panels used will come solely from Oregon-manufacturing companies in an attempt to stimulate the Oregon solar industry.
This is a timely issue, as SolarWorld, the largest domestic producer of solar panels in the state, petitioned the federal government last month to stop allegedly unfair competition from Chinese solar panel industry.
Last Friday, the International Trade Commission (ITC) unanimously supported Solarworld’s complaint, which had gained additional support from dozens of other manufacturers as well as 59 members of Congress. The ITC ruling declared that Chinese imports are harming the U.S. solar manufacturing industry, and launched plans for federal investigation of the Chinese import practices.
“We are using entirely Oregon manufactured products because we want the economic return to go to the state,” Simonton said.
OUS hopes using Oregon manufactured products will help create jobs that will contribute to tax revenue and create greater economic value to the state. Oregon has passed many tax credit programs to help the currently struggling solar manufacturing industry.
“The project is funded through BETC [Business Energy Tax Credits], as part of the state subsidizing part of the project,” Simonton said. “The ODE [Oregon Department of Energy] will do a study to determine the economic value of using tax incentives.”
OUS worked closely with University professor Frank Vignola to determine how best to go about installing solar panels at the University.
“We have all these renewable resources, but now what we need to do is figure out what is the proper mix for the region,” Vignola said. “We want something that’s both sustainable and economic.”