When it opens in the fall, UC Davis West Village will be big, housing thousands of students, families a college classrooms and retail space.

But LT Governor Gavin Newsom, came to the nearly completed construction site today not so much to celebrate it's size, but to reinforce a message that green energy is the key to California's economic recovery.

NEWSOM: We have 26 California counties with unemployment north of 15%. These are depression era numbers. We have got to focus on the issue of job creation.

The core concept of the Davis project is that it will be zero net energy living.  Four mega watts of Solar power combined with energy efficiency means that the development will not draw any extra energy from the grid.

NEWSOM: I don't know that people appreciate the history that this project will represent as people look back at this moment. We are not talking about LEED certification anymore. With all due respect that is hibrid cars, that's yesterday.

Fall UC Davis students will be the first residents in West Village beginning in September.  Retail and more housing as slated to be ready by early 2012.