CSUN PLANT UP, RUNNING.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM

Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE -- The world's largest fuel-cell power plant built at any college campus was dedicated Friday at California State University, Northridge, where school officials received a $2.2 million check from the Southern California Gas Co.

The 1-megawatt fuel cell, a $5.8 million power plant at CSUN, has been operating for the past month, providing the campus with enough electricity to power 800 homes, officials said.

Len Pettis, chief of plant, energy and utilities for the Cal State system, said the fuel cell has made CSUN one of the most environmentally friendly campuses among higher-education institutions.

Tom Brown, executive director of Northridge's physical plant management, has called the addition of the power plant a "win" for the campus and the community.

"Not only does it provide learning opportunities for our students, but it also lessens the university's impact on the community," Brown has said. "By incorporating the fuel-cell plant into campus operations, we are reducing the university's (carbon dioxide) emissions into the environment by 60 million pounds during its lifetime."

The fuel cell generates base load electricity to heat buildings and provide showers and food service with hot water, and heat the student union's swimming pool.

Since 2001, The Gas Co. has awarded more than $42 million to customers installing electric-generation systems, providing the state with 46 megawatts of generation, enough to power about 37,000 homes, said Rick Morrow, vice president of customer services for The Gas Co.

"We are committed to help California move toward a cleaner energy future and to help reduce the costs of self-generation technologies for California consumers," he said in a statement.

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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