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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2012)
area news february14 15 PCC Plans Largest Ground-mounted Solar Array in Portland Area Portland Community College will soon start construction of a 35,000-square-foot solar array at the Rock Creek Campus. The project is to be funded by dollars from the 2008 bond measure and is expected to produce 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in its first year of operation – enough to fulfill the electrical needs of 40 average sized homes per year – and nearly 10 million kilowatt hours during the next 20 years. The 500-kilowatt array is a partnership between PCC and Oregon- based public and private entities, including The Energy Trust of Oregon, SolarCity, SolarWorld and the Oregon Department of Energy. The two-acre structure will create nearly 40 temporary jobs, be constructed with solar panels produced by SolarWorld in Hillsboro and installed by local construction workers from SolarCity. The array will be operational this spring. “This partnership between these private and public players will provide a valuable ‘pay back’ to the community for years to come,” said PCC District President Preston Pulliams. “In addition, this is one of several sustainability initiatives that PCC has undertaken to not only help off-set energy use and costs, but to help move forward the thinking and development of green technologies and green jobs.” The system will provide 60 percent of the energy needs of Building 9, a 72,000 square-foot structure that houses student and administrative services and the Rock Creek Campus library. The electricity produced will ensure the college’s access to low cost energy over the next twenty years. The array will be owned, operated and maintained by SolarCity. The college will have the option to purchase it after in St. Helens, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20 years. 20 for Presidents’ Day. PCC is required to spend Women who are expecting babies or 1.5 percent of the value of who are nursing infants may receive vouchers applicable capital projects for nutritious foods, if eligible by income, on solar energy initiatives. health risks and nutritional needs. Infants who To best meet the 1.5 percent are not breastfeeding may receive formula requirement, PCC proposed vouchers. Children 5 years old or younger and the Oregon Department may receive food vouchers quarterly. of Energy agreed to Columbia County Facts issued by consolidate several planned the Oregon WIC program show that in 2010, projects throughout the Columbia County WIC served a total of district into this solar array. 2,254 clients, including infants and children Working closely together, under age 5, and pregnant, breastfeeding and the two maximized the postpartum women. WIC served 967 families. cost effectiveness and WIC certifiers schedule monthly output of the system. PCC appointments in five cities in Columbia also partnered with The County. The program issues $728,000 in food Energy Trust of Oregon, vouchers to families annually. The vouchers an independent nonprofit are redeemed at eight grocery stores, two organization dedicated to farmers’ markets and one farm stand in facilitating energy saving Columbia County. WIC Focuses on Family Heart Health in February The Public Health WIC staff will hold travel clinics in Columbia County Jan. 10-13 with the education focus on Family Heart Health. All clinics are from 9:30 AM to 1:15 PM for re-certification of clients and new applicants for the Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) Federal food program. The travel dates are: Scappoose, Tuesday, Feb. 7; Rainier, Wednesday, Feb. 8; Clatskanie, Thursday, Feb. 9 and Vernonia, Friday, Feb. 10. WIC sees clients throughout the month by appointment in the St. Helens office. The class schedule in St. Helens has expanded to include new sessions for age-level feeding. Those wishing an appointment can call the WIC Clerk at 503-397-4651 ext 2015. To accommodate clients, the WIC appointments will extend to 7:00 PM on Feb. 29. Late clinic is on the last Wednesday of each month. The Public Health office at 2370 Gable Road 2012 and generating renewable energy. “PCC has been a great partner,” said Kip Barrett, project development manager at SolarCity. “The school has been actively involved with all aspects of their project; from site selection to integrating the system into curriculum for students. The project brings a new, educational tool to the PCC campus, and generates long-term energy savings that will benefit the school, its faculty and students for years to come.” The solar array fits PCC’s Climate Action Plan, which pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To accomplish this the college will make everything from building operations and transportation services, to credit programs and community outreach more sustainable. And that includes using the bond program to help meet these objectives. “The bond program is committed to being good stewards of the public’s dollars now and in the future,” said Linda Degman, associate director for the Bond Program. “It is for this reason that it is seeking to incorporate sustainable, energy efficient building practices as it creates new and renovates older educational facilities across the district.” The array will enhance existing PCC academic programs focused on green jobs and green innovations. Students in these programs will be able to track in real time the energy production of the array and the benefits of harnessing a renewable resource. is proud to open our doors for business on Monday, February 20th, 2012! Hours of Operation are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30am to 5pm. You can discover more information about our providers and practice philosophy, print patient registration forms through our Patient Portal, and view accepted insurance carriers on our website. We look forward to partnering with the local health professionals in contributing to the community’s wellness! Come meet the staff and providers at our Open House on Saturday, February 18th, 2012 from 9:30am to Noon If you are unable to attend the Open House, you can visit Vernonia Pharmacy or the West Oregon Electric Co-Op for patient registration forms at your convenience http://www.verdurafamilywellness.com/ Verdura Family Wellness 510 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-0300
