"NVC proudly featured the solar field on the cover of its 2005-06 Report to the Community. Accolades followed. A Korean TV crew came to film a segment in spring 2007, and the 2007-08 Napa County Grand Jury report commended the college for the solar installation as well as a new cooling system that worked by circulating chilled liquid, saying both could serve as national models for reducing emissions."
"Some reports predicted a 25-year lifespan for the system. Others said 30. But roughly 15 years after that ribbon-cutting moment, the panels went dark. They now sit idle and overgrown with weeds. What happened to Napa Valley College's $7.5 million solar field? The answer points to a public institution unable to keep pace with a rapidly evolving industry, and offers a cautionary tale for other energy innovators navigating the turbulent world of solar power."
In April 2006 Napa Valley College activated a 5,600-panel, 1.2-megawatt solar array across five acres of floodplain, expected to supply roughly 40% of campus electricity and save about $300,000 annually. The system featured sun-tracking panels and was once among the largest U.S. installations, drawing acclaim and being touted as a model alongside an advanced cooling system. Lifespan estimates ranged from 25 to 30 years. About 15 years after commissioning the panels stopped producing power and became overgrown. The failure reflects the college's difficulty maintaining and upgrading the system amid rapid technological and industry change, creating lessons for other institutions.
Read at The Mercury News
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