LOUISIANA La. — The University of Louisiana College of Engineering has an expensive new toy — a $1 million, 900-kilowatt turbine generator.

The machine, donated by California-based Solar Turbines, fills an 18-wheeler trailer and puts out enough power to keep the lights burning in a neighborhood of several dozen homes.

It will serve as a teaching and research lab where ULL engineering students can get first-hand experience with power generation on a large scale.

“Very few colleges have these, especially a brand spanking new one,” said UL Dean of Engineering Mark Zappi at a ceremony Friday to unveil the machine. “… In our wildest imagination, I never would have dreamed of having a piece of equipment like this.”


The rest of the story

By RICHARD BURGESS
Advocate Acadiana bureau