The California Independent System Operator Corp. (California ISO) board of governors voted unanimously in favor of building a permanent headquarters for the grid operator. The $160 million project will exemplify California ISO's commitment to the environment, with the goal of attaining a green building LEED gold rating.
In a separate motion, the board awarded Clark Construction the construction contract. The 278,000 square-foot building will be located on Iron Point Road in Folsom on 30 acres of land that the ISO purchased in 2000. The expected completion date is March 2011.
‘Security and space considerations are the driving forces behind the project,’ says Yakout Mansour, ISO president and CEO. ‘However, we will seize the opportunity to lead by example, serving as a model for sustainable building design by using the latest green technology advances.’
The new facility's lobby area will include a renewable power education center and a smart-grid lab to showcase high-tech ways to conserve energy and tap consumer-controlled demand response.
SOURCE: California Independent System Operator Corp.
