Thanks to Northern California's largest solar electric system, Napa Valley College is getting ready to save $300,000 annually on its electric bills.

Wednesday afternoon at Kennedy Park, NVC officials dedicated the new solar energy system, and other local leaders voiced their appreciation and support for the innovative project.

"We're delighted that solar power is being harnessed here at Napa Valley College," NVC President Dr. Chris McCarthy said in a prepared statement. "Our college is committed to utilizing state-of-the-art technologies that lower costs, enhance operation and help us achieve our sustainability goals."

McCarthy also said that money saved from the solar energy project will be used to benefit NVC students.

The year-long project was built by Bay Area company PowerLight and cost $7.5 million. Four million came from the college's 2002 Measure N bond money, and $3.5 million from PG&E incentives.

The 1.2 megawatt photovoltaic system will provide power to meet 40 percent of the electricity needs on campus. The solar array has 5,600 panels covering 6.5 acres of flood plain on the edge of Kennedy Park -- land that is otherwise unusable for the college. During the day, the panels will generate electricity sufficient to power 1,200 homes.

"(Solar power) is a magical thing ... all you need is daylight to convert the sun to electricity," said Howard Wegner, executive vice president of PowerLight. "This technology represents the best of what you can do for the planet, and there's no better place to demonstrate this technology than at a college."

PowerLight's system tracks the sun across the sky, produce up to 20 percent more energy than a stationary solar array of the same size.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who later met with NVC students for a wide-ranging talk, discussed the importance of alternative energy sources and touted NVC as a leader in earth-friendly efforts.

"It's not just about money you save, but the quality of life you gain from projects like this," said Thompson. "We need to continue to make solar energy a national priority."

Napa Mayor Jill Techel called the solar project "a field of dreams."

NVC estimates that the project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to planting more than 130 acres of trees, removing 2,700 cars from California's highways or not driving 35 million miles.

President of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Achievement club James Carter, and MESA member Leilani Wakin, were the first to flip the switch on the historic project.