Elizabethtown College was awarded a $500,000 Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) grant to install a 2-megawatt ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system and create opportunities for students and faculty members to study various aspects of solar energy.
There were 184 PEDA projects submitted, totaling more than $81 million; only 28 grants were awarded to local governments, schools and businesses for alternative and clean energy projects, along with projects deploying technologies such as solar energy, hydropower, biomass and energy efficiency.
A congratulatory letter from the governor noted that this PEDA was one of the most competitive ever and noted that the College’s project emulates the vision of the project. “We are supporting a more diverse and robust energy sector that protects our environment and uses our resources more efficiently,” said Gov. Corbett. “These grants will help organizations harness alternative and renewable energy to increase energy efficiency throughout Pennsylvania.”
We hope to get underway this summer with completion planned for late October, November.”
“Elizabethtown College and Clean Energy: Utilizing a Solar Array to Lower Energy Costs, Enhance Sustainability Efforts, and Expand Research and Education,” is a partnership with Stone House Group — a facilities and energy management consulting firm dedicated to strengthening institutions by providing technical, sustainable and facilities-related services with a specific focus on facilitating responsible planning and management of energy, natural and financial resources — and a solar provider to be determined.
The solar array, which will easily blend into its surroundings, will be installed on 33.2 acres owned by the College in Mount Joy Township. The land, currently utilized by a farmer, has approved for zoning by the Township and actions the College will need to put in place have been outlined. “We hope to get underway this summer with completion planned for late October, November,” said Robert Wallett, vice president for administration.
In addition to building the array, the College’s $500,000 grant also will be used to increase opportunities for students and faculty members to study the effective implementation of solar energy projects, the cost-savings of such projects and the scientific monitoring/ tracking of the harvesting of solar energy.
In its quest to provide students with strong experiential learning opportunities, this project has a component designed to generate ongoing opportunities for students and faculty members from departments across campus to conduct research on solar energy. This project provides data that can be analyzed in courses throughout the year and also as larger summer research projects undertaken as part of the Summer Scholarship, Creative Arts and Research Projects (SCARP) Program.
The College estimates that 20 percent of its electricity needs will be met through the energy harvested from the solar array. As solar energy is 100-percent emission-free, this will lower the campus’ carbon footprint.
Elizabethtown College has a longstanding history of strong stewardship of resources and a commitment to reflecting best practices in the management of its facilities and grounds. Past Growing Greener grants helped create an educational trail for builders and others interested in exploring best water-management practices for storm water. The College will continue these efforts and serve as a resource for those in our region interested in pursuing solar energy projects.
PEDA is an independent public financing authority created in 1982 by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and the Emergency Powers Act. The authority’s mission is to finance clean, advanced energy projects in Pennsylvania.