APTOS—Cabrillo College is in the midst of transforming four of its parking lots with new solar carports, part of what college officials say is a sustainability project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Work is underway in parking lots A-D, which are just off Soquel Drive where the Saturday farmers market is held.
Several large cylindrical bases that will eventually support the solar shade structures are now in place throughout the three-tier lot.
The project required cutting down several trees in the lot, a move college President Matt Wetstein says has resulted in pushback from the community.
But he says the losses will be offset by the planting of 50 California Oak trees throughout the campus.
“I understand the concerns being voiced, but the overall benefits of the project far outweigh the loss of trees that are being cut down,” he wrote in an email to staff.
Additionally, the solar panels will help the college offset 81,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to what 1.3 million trees can capture over 10 years, Wetstein said.
Wetstein said the project also makes economic sense for the college, which stands to save between $2.2 and $3.5 million over 20 years.
one of the many projects at our soon-to-be renamed community college is to improve our solar power storage and usage. I know that I am not alone among my fellow trustees in enthusiastic support of this project . this has been needed for some time. We need to set an example for the 21st century that will not use fossil fuel to provide energy.
Dear fellow community members, I urge you not to become embroiled in a ridiculous shouting match from Steve. It adds traffic to the website which equates to money for the company.
Please boycott any conversation in which Steve tries to egg on a response from the community. I’m starting to think he I in cahoots with the paper to drive up interest in the site in increase revenues
Thank you for understandinG
proud that our community college recognizes the need to provide solar power for our campus. we need , now that we are changing our name, to be the greenest we can possibly be,