Daily Democrat - UCD receives $2.5M for mixed housing unit
UC Davis has received a federal grant of $2.5 million through the Department of Energy for its on-going West Village Project, a mixed housing and commercial development now under construction.
The funding was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was supported by area Congressional representatives Doris Matsui and Mike Thompson.
Matsui and Thompson co-authored a letter to Secretary Chu supporting UC Davis' application for the grant, citing the project's capacity to provide sustainable, affordable on-campus housing for thousands of students, staff and faculty.
"Renewable energy is the way of the future," U.S. Rep Mike Thompson, D-Yolo County, said. "I'm proud to see that once again UC Davis is leading the way in finding new and innovative ways to power our homes and create sustainable communities."
UCD Chancellor Linda Katehi said UC Davis West Village and other communities will benefit from the DoE's support for the waste-to-energy project.
"The West Village project will immediately reduce our campus's environmental impact while showing us the best way to build similar projects in other places. Every day, UC Davis is advancing our commitment to sustainability and clean energy solutions."
The UC Davis West Village project is a 205-acre Zero Net Energy community based on the Davis campus. The planned community's design features a variety of sustainability innovations and promises to serve as a blueprint for future energy-wise developments nationwide. The emphasis on walking, bicycling and public transportation will reduce emissions commonly associated with new housing projects.
The West Village Smart Grid Demonstration Project will rely on on-site renewable energy generation from a number of renewable sources to meet 100% of the energy demand on an annual basis. On-site renewable energy generation will help safeguard the project from the conventional interruptions and shortfalls commonly characterized by imported energy. Security measures designed to protect the grid from cyber-related threats will be a key feature.