The University of Southern California has hired EcoMotion to support the development of a solar project at the Galen Center, USC’s basketball and volleyball arena. The roof is one of the best for solar that EcoMotion solar experts Strand, Ware, and Lowell-Britt have ever seen. And the view of downtown LA is to die for! We’re on a fast track to solicit suitable vendors, recommend a contractor, gain administration direction and approval, and to get under contract and built. Already a high-level interconnection analysis was completed by LADWP, USC, and EcoMotion.

So what was the impetus for solarizing this 9-year old building? USC’s Energy Manager had been approached by solar companies. Concurrently, a group of students eager to promote solar contacted EcoMotion. Through one of their professors, they found out about the “AASHE Special” whereby EcoMotion provides no-cost, initial consulting to any AASHE member. This began the discussion at USC, and soon USC’s most able Energy Manager was driving the ship. USC’s potential for solar is great… but payback thresholds have stymied any activity to date. Now with remaining incentive funds and low-cost equipment, a system may well pencil.

Meanwhile, EcoMotion has hired by University Housing to evaluate the potential for solar at each of 27, USC-owned residences.