Recently, on Blog Action Day, I wrote about the ways in which solar power could help fight poverty around the world. Around that time I happened across an interesting story at Current, which alluded to poverty in our own country and how one community is using solar power to help dig many of its residents up and over that poverty line. Over the last several years the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has been working hard to update their many buildings and campuses with solar power systems and the technology with which to teach students the valuable career-skills that go along with solar and other clean tech installations.

These would be long-term, high paying jobs and would be a blessing to many in the city of Los Angeles. 50 percent of LACCD students live below the national poverty line. That is a high percentage for a city in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Yet, if you have to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, then solar power is a good way to do it. Here are four reasons why:

1. LACCD is looking to be the first chain of colleges to harvest their power needs from solar energy.
2. The solar panels will save LACCD an estimated $10 million per year.
3. District officials calculate that the solar systems will create 29,000 new jobs in the area.
4. When the systems are complete, LACCD will have the unique advantage of teaching their students high tech jobs in an ever-growing marketplace for renewable energy.

Furthermore, better high-paying jobs will attract new residents, provide opportunities for existing residents, and stimulate the local economy. I really must applaud the proactive thinking of LACCD and the residents of LA. This truly is a massive investment into the future of their youth.

Yet, as you can imagine, this is no small feat in a city the size of Los Angeles and the district is asking for help from the voters once again. In 2001 and 2003 the district received a total of $2.2 billion to do the work. The work, however, turned out to be a huge undertaking and, at present, the district is spending up to $20 million per week. That high rate will leave them out of money by next year and the job unfinished. Therefore, LACCD is asking for another $3.5 billion to complete the project.

Local voters will have a chance to vote on the bond (Measure J) this November.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Posted on October 27th in Solar News by Dan.