Planned solar array will provide 25 percent of electricity needs for Penn State system

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Planned solar array will provide 25 percent of electricity needs for Penn State system

By District Energy posted 02-13-2019 00:00

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Mike Kennedy, American School & University

Summary

Penn State is developing 70 megawatts of large-scale, offsite solar energy installations with a goal of providing 25 percent of the university's statewide electricity requirements over 25 years.

The university says in a news release that Lightsource BP will build the ground-mounted solar array.

It will have more than 150,000 solar panels in three locations encompassing roughly 500 acres situated just outside Chambersburg, Pa., near Penn State’s Mont Alto campus.

“Among the many benefits of this significant investment in solar-based electric generation include cost savings, lower greenhouse-gas emissions in support of Penn State’s aggressive sustainability goals, economic development with job creation, and income for host communities through development of the Pennsylvania solar market,” says Rob Cooper, senior director of energy and engineering in Penn State's Office of Physical Plant.