Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
Cal Poly Pomona (a California state university) has a hidden diamond in the rough called the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. We did some investigating at the facility that has lost funding to continue to conduct research. Its unbelievable that such a great engineering school with the solar energy resources on their campus doesn’t take maximum benefit of such a facility. Imagine if students could get hands on training for solar power right on campus, training the future in solar power is an integral part of the industry’s advancement and core element for the USA to become energy independent.
According to the center’s website,
“The mission of the Lyle Center is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The term “regenerative” describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.
Located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) within the Cal Poly Pomona University campus, the Center researches and demonstrates a wide array of regenerative strategies, including low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community development.”
The center had a concentrated solar panel system. this solar panel looks different because it has mirrors that magnify the suns light and forces more light into the solar panels making them more efficient. Its a more cost effective way to reduce the cost of solar panels although has its draw backs due to overheating issues.
A dusty old solar panel tracking system, I did’nt notice it move and there was a lot of dirt on the solar panels, The system did’nt look like they were in operation from what we could tell.
Solar Panel and Wind Power hybrid system sitting up on the hill. The wind turbine was an older model, it made a whining sound as the turbines rotated. It was a great day to be checking out the wind generator because there was wind really give it a kick.
Solar Panels covered in weeds! Hey Cal Poly Pomona, if you don’t want those solar panels, I’ll put them to good use
A sterling engine, or whats left of it, this is an amazing machine when its operating it has the potential to create utility scale power.
We wonder why California isn’t reaching its 1 million solar roof top fast enough, when we have California state universities dropping the ball on renewable energy we truly realize the severity of the energy crisis America faces today.
If you want to help or want to learn more about this great resource click on the link below:
May 29, 2008
Interesting report. I wonder why they can’t get finances for that wonderful type of mission.
May 31, 2008
thats a good question….cutting off research at the university level is one of the root causes of our energy problems today. It seems like the people who are making the most money in energy today fear the clean energy revolution that is taking place.
October 31, 2008
It might just mean that they have found a better place to invest.
October 31, 2008
What has happened to the idea of self-help? How come the students are not sufficiently motivated to repair, clean and weed the various projects themselves? Is everyone waiting for funding to have someone else take care of things?
Why would anyone want to part with their ‘gift dollars’ if they thought these earlier projects would be left is such a bad state?
If saving the planet is the goal, it might be a good place to start!
October 31, 2008
The answer to all the questions about why the funding has been reduced/eliminated is quite simple:
Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento (the idiots we can’t seem to unelect), and unwary voters throughout California, all of whom have mortgaged the future of California with hundreds of billions of dollars of general obligation bond debt. With a $17,000,000,000 budget shortfall just three years after a $17,000,000,000 shortfall was hidden away with billions in new debt, there is no money in the state for “frivolities” such as solar power research at Cal Poly Pomona (just three miles from where I live).
Y’all can come and look at my rooftop PV solar array, chugging out 14-20 KW per day depending on the quality of the sunlight. (The rainy/cloudy weather today has put a bit of a damper on those numbers.)
October 31, 2008
In response to Anthony . . . what? students work? Are you kidding? All they want to do is party. Maybe if someone said, “We’re having a party,” and when they all got there, were told, “Before the beer kegs roll out, you all have to pull some weeds, wipe off some solar panels, oil some windmill turbines, or other bit of clean up, it might work. But I rather doubt it.
October 31, 2008
@Chris, um I highly doubt that, where else could they invest better then renewable energy, in fact compared to Germany, who is leading the green energy industry, we don’t invest enough here in the USA toward clean technologies.
can you give me any specific examples of a better investment they made with the funding they cut from renewable energy?
October 31, 2008
@Anthony, the facility needs money, there are broken parts that need to be fixed, new equipment that needs to be ordered. I actually tried to volunteer there without any luck because the faculty did not want any outsiders to help. You can’t expect students who are typically broke, have very low authority on campus and are facing skyrocketing tuition inflation to take charge.
October 31, 2008
@ max, right on…you are the one who gets the point. Our elected officials keep pissing away our money on useless projects, while the very important ones never get any attention, then they blame us, saying “Americans are addicted to oil”.
Compared to other developed nations, the energy policy here in the USA is quite sad.
By the way, I would love to check out your solar power system. please contact me