AGILENT ACTIVATES MEGA SOLAR-POWER SYSTEM

I just saw this in our company newsletter and thought it was pretty cool. I'm happy to see them investing in renewable energy and lessening the company's impact on the earth (not to sound like a hippie).

AGILENT ACTIVATES MEGA SOLAR-POWER SYSTEM -- On Oct. 3, Agilent dedicated the largest carport tracking solar-power generation system in North America, which doubles as a canopy for a three-acre employee parking lot at the company’s Santa Rosa (Calif.) site. At its peak, the solar system will generate more than 1 megawatt, or up to 20 percent of Agilent’s required energy for the site. The system is expected to displace more than 90 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 30 years, which is equivalent to the emissions from approximately 7,500 cars.

Two celebrations were held onsite that day – one that drew more than 500 employees in the morning, and another for local elected officials and community leaders in the afternoon. Agilent President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Sullivan spoke at both events, hosted by Wireless Business Unit and Santa Rosa Site Vice President Ron Nersesian. In the afternoon, a smaller indoor gathering of community officials heard presentations by Santa Rosa Vice Mayor Susan Gorin, representatives from power company Pacific Gas & Electric and U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey’s office, and CEO Tom Werner of SunPower, which installed the solar system.

Also announced at the celebration was the site’s new “Commute Alternative Program” for employees, which includes preferential parking for those who carpool or drive hybrid or all-electric vehicles. In addition, employees who drive electric vehicles can double their advantage by using preferred parking spaces under the panels to plug into one of four charging stations built into the solar power system.