Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that the solar panels on the Grossmont and Cuyamaca college campuses are now interconnected with SDG&E, providing a low-cost source of energy for the District for years to come.

The panels and solar storage systems are expected to save the District about $43 million over the next 20 years, with savings of about $600,000 the first year, and exponentially rising savings over the life of the contract.

The panels were built through a partnership with ForeFront Power, and the rate that the District pays for the power generated by the panels is set for the next 20 years. The set rate for 69% of the District’s electricity needs removes the effects of any future rate increases imposed by SDG&E.

In addition to the solar panels, the District is now offering electric vehicle charging stations at the Grossmont and Cuyamaca College campuses that are primarily intended for GCCCD students and employees. The charging stations are located in Lots 4, 6 and 7 at Grossmont College, and in Lots 1 and 5 at Cuyamaca College.

To use the charging stations, download the ChargePoint app on your phone and set up an account with your payment method. You can pay for your charge through the app or by using a credit card at the charging station.

The fee for using a charging station is 28 cents per kilowatt hour Monday through Friday for the first four hours. On Saturdays and Sundays, the fee is 50 cents per kilowatt hour for the first four hours. After four hours, the rate increases to $5 per hour daily to encourage users to move their vehicle and allow others to access the stations.

The implementation of this comprehensive solar project not only saves significant financial resources over time, it demonstrates the District’s commitment to save energy and help protect our climate and the environment.

I would express my gratitude to all those who made this important project a reality.

With gratitude,

Lynn Ceresino Neault, Ed.D., Chancellor