UC presents revised plan for housing Helios research

BERKELEY — University of California representatives are presenting to state government officials newly revised plans for housing the Helios research initiatives that will explore promising new solar-energy technologies. The previous plan to house the Helios effort called for a single, consolidated facility on UC-owned land at the LBNL site. The new proposal calls for the Helios research endeavors to be housed in two physically separate and independent buildings: one in downtown Berkeley and a smaller building at UC's LBNL site. In 2007 the state authorized the use of $70 million in lease-revenue bonds to support the $185-million Helios construction project. With the University now proposing changes in facility configuration — but not in the total construction cost or square footage — authorization from state officials is being sought before the revised plan is presented to the UC Board of Regents for approval. The new proposal was prompted by information developed and community input received during the design and environmental review processes. University planning officials say the two-facility solution would be mutually beneficial for the city and the university because it would reduce impacts, costs, and delays related to the site that had been under consideration.