We are currently negotiating a new natural gas contract with protections from market volatility. New campus building projects will increase our electrical load an estimated 50 percent over the next five years. Gas prices will likely remain high for up to five years. Create more supply by generating electricity, and decrease demand. The Physical Facilities Energy Team is currently working on several generation projects.
Fuel cells provide electricity and a heat source with no harmful emissions.
Also under discussion are the installation of 450 kWs of photovoltaic cells and other forms of power generation. Gov. Davis has mandated that all state facilities reduce their total electrical usage by 8 percent, and reduce electrical demand by 20 percent during any Stage 2 emergency. This is no easy feat. Since 1997, our campus has reduced its electrical demand from 15 Megawatts to 13 Megawatts. This reduction of almost 14 percent is due mainly to the installation of energy efficient lighting in two-thirds of our buildings.