Solar Decathlon receives $50,000 challenge grant

By Hilary Tone

The Santa Clara Solar Decathlon team has been given a challenge grant of $50,000 by University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., provided they can raise $50,000 on their own from other sources.

The challenge grant comes from the President's Fund for Strategic Initiatives, according to Timothy Hight, chair of the mechanical engineering department.

"Father Locatelli has been very supportive and enthusiastic about this project from the beginning," Hight said.

Estimated costs for the whole project total around $614,000, of which about $210,250 has already been committed in cash or in material donations such as solar panels. Out of eight companies that have agreed to donate to the solar house, REgrid and Solarsa constitute the two largest benefactors, together giving about $75,000 in money and materials to the project.

Solar Decathlon student team members, while celebrating the challenge grant, continue to approach companies for donations of money or materials.

"I'd say being located in the Silicon Valley gives us a distinct advantage over all the competition," said project manager James Bickford, a junior mechanical engineering major. "We're one of three solar capitals in the world, along with Japan and Germany."

REgrid and Solarsa's contributions fall short only to Locatelli's recent pledge and the Department of Energy's initial cash donation of $100,000, given upon Santa Clara's invitation to the Solar Decathlon.

"That was the point when we said, 'Oh my gosh, what have we gotten ourselves into?' " said Hight with a chuckle.

Santa Clara was originally number 21 on a list where only the top 20 schools were allowed to participate. It was only after Cal Poly San Luis Obispo dropped out that Santa Clara was officially recognized as one of the competitors in the Solar Decathlon.

"Cal Poly wasn't able to generate enough interest among its students," Bickford said. "But we're still in touch with some of its students and professors for architectural advising."

Since the Santa Clara team hasn't previously received a sum as large as Locatelli's challenge grant, they say it has helped to motivate the students not only in their fundraising efforts, but in their long-term goals for the project.

"This is a completely student-run project," Bickford said. "And I would say we're right on track. It's taken a little longer than I expected to get momentum going, but we haven't stalled along the way at any point."

The team, which includes students from the school of business who aid in fundraising and marketing, has also expanded their fundraising to include alumni donations through the student call center, which has generated approximately $3,500.

"Without the Solar Decathlon, we wouldn't be so actively fundraising," Hight said. "It gives us a focus, something concrete to tell donors and companies involved in this industry."

With approximately $403,000 left to go, the student team members continue to be active in pursuing further interest in and donations for their project. Students attended a Solar Polar 2006 exposition in San Jose last week. Over 160 solar technology companies were represented and the Santa Clara team was able to connect with approximately 100 of them.

"We're constantly moving forward, getting industry experts, people to help us out," Bickford said. "We're pushing ahead, and I think that's the ultimate goal."

Contact Hilary Tone at htone@scu.edu.