- Author: Elizabeth Deyett
Over the summer of 2017, a collaboration between SunPower and UC Riverside resulted in 9,600 new solar panels to cover the largest parking lots on campus. With the installation of these solar panels, UCR is now creating more on-site renewable energy than any other UC campus, except for UC Davis.
Image from Press Enterprise
To highlight this achievement, Ben Sommerkorn and Ella Deyett of the UCR Graduate Sustainability Network worked with UCR's Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and School of Public Policy to hold a public panel about our campus renewable energy portfolio. The panel featured Sean Mantucca from SunPower Corporation, Jeff Kaplan from UCR Capital Asset Strategies, and Dr. Sadrul Ula, UCR Director of Infrastructure and Energy management. The hour-long event informed the audience of the future prospects for UCR renewable energy and the upcoming projects that aim to lower our carbon footprint. This event drew a substantial crowd of students, staff, faculty and even members of the Riverside community.
Many of UCR's sustainability initiatives are done behind the scenes, and the public (both on and off campus) is often unaware of these efforts. As a CNI fellow, it is my goal to bridge this information gap in hopes of creating a more visible culture of sustainability and carbon neutrality at UCR. The next lecture series will be held on April 19, and will feature Sustainable Agriculture with professional panelist from UCR faculty, graduate researchers, and industry personnel.
From left to right: Elizabeth Deyett, Dr. Sadrul Ula, Sean Mantucca, Jeff Kaplan, Ben Sommerkorn
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