Fullerton College
Fullerton College
Transitioning one of California's oldest community colleges to clean energy with a solar parking canopy pilot project.
Fullerton College needed to cut rising utility costs and demonstrate visible climate leadership while maintaining budget stability across the North Orange County Community College District.
ForeFront Power delivered a 1 MW DC solar parking canopy under a 20-year PPA with no upfront cost, providing fixed, below-utility electricity rates while owning, operating, and maintaining the system.
The solar canopies now generate 1.8 million kWh annually—offsetting nearly 20% of the College’s electricity use, avoiding about 1,000 tons of CO₂ each year, saving an expected $6 million in utility expenses, and providing over 300 shaded parking spaces for students and staff.
Fullerton College’s 1 megawatt-DC (MW DC) solar parking canopy array, developed in partnership with ForeFront Power, will save the College an expected $6 million in utility expenses.
Fullerton College, part of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), is California’s oldest continually operating community college. Now, more than a century later, the College is transitioning to clean energy and defining a new course for the California Community Colleges System. This is the first solar project for the North Orange County Community College District, serving as a pilot for future renewable energy projects at other campuses.
Fullerton College was able to pursue this project at no upfront cost through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ForeFront Power. The PPA enabled the College to secure a fixed, lower rate than the utility for electricity for the next 20 years, ensuring budget stability while avoiding rising utility costs. Meanwhile, ForeFront Power will continue to own, operate, and maintain the system throughout the life of the agreement.
"One of the benefits of working with ForeFront Power was them being able to handle a lot of the permitting and construction logistics while we were mainly there for support. That really saved me a lot of time to be able to work on other processes, other pieces of my sustainability plan, whether that be our education or our student engagement. The folks at ForeFront really helped us figure out the logistics of this project and bring it to fruition."
By lowering utility expenses, Fullerton College can direct more resources toward classrooms, academic programs, and career training. For students, the project is also a visible symbol of the College’s values. It demonstrates that their school is committed to climate action and is investing in a sustainable future for its students, community, and generations to come.
The new 1 MW solar energy canopy will generate 1.8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable electricity annually, enough to power more than 300 homes each year. This clean energy production will offset nearly 20% of the College’s annual electricity use, helping the College avoid 1,000 tons of carbon emissions every year in the process. This greenhouse gas emission reduction equates to removing approximately 200 passenger vehicles off the road year-to-year. The solar canopies now provide over 300 shaded parking areas for students and staff.
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