Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  April 29, 2024

NC, PA Universities Sign Solar PPA

Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and eight other colleges and universities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania joined together to bring a large-scale solar facility online in western Kentucky.

The collaboration on the power purchase agreement (PPA) is between Davidson College, Dickinson College, Elon University, Haverford College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, Swarthmore College and Wake Forest University and will allow the academic institutions to receive the benefits of renewable energy through a deal typically only feasible for large customers.

“We’re proud to join this consortium of colleges and universities on this large-scale solar energy project. Together, we’re taking a thoughtful step toward addressing climate issues and creating a more sustainable future,” said Nicole Hurd, president of Lafayette College, in a statement. “It also accelerates our goal to reach carbon neutrality on our campus by 2035 as part of our Climate Action Plan.”

Guided by Coho, an ERM Group Company, the colleges and universities are working with NextEra Energy Resources, a large generator of renewable energy. 

The consortium is supporting the Sebree Solar II project through a PPA that entails purchasing energy for 20 years. The project is set to begin construction in early 2025 and start commercial operation by the end of 2026. 

The solar facility will be located near the town of Robards, Kentucky, and near the Ohio River. The Sebree Solar II project will offer considerable environmental benefits, as the project will generate up to 150 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. 

While electricity generated by the Sebree Solar II project cannot be transmitted directly to the consortium campuses because of the distance, the benefits of the investment will be transferred to the schools. 

Lafayette College will be paying for an amount of energy equal to 100% of the electricity used by its campus. In exchange, Lafayette will receive renewable energy credits, which can be used to account for GHG emissions related to purchased electricity.

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