The George Washington University (GW), American University (AU) and the George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) are collaborating for a renewable energy project that will bring solar power from North Carolina to the institutions.
The project, named Capital Partners Solar Project and supplied by Duke Energy Renewables, consists of 52MW of solar PV power, which is equivalent to the electricity used in 8,200 homes every year.
Steven Knapp, president, GW said, “From this innovative partnership universities will receive half of all electricity from solar energy, accelerating the progress toward the carbon neutrality target set for 2025.”
The project, orchestrated by CustomerFirst Renewables (CFR), will help GW, AU and GWUH meet their climate action plan commitments free of additional costs. The project is expected to commence by summer of this year, and will become fully operational by 2015.
Capital Partners Solar Project will generate 123 millionKWh of electricity per year drawn from 243,000 solar panels at three sites. This translates to eliminating 60,000 m tons of carbon per year.
American University is on its way to achieving carbon neutrality by 2020.The AU is home to combined solar array in the District and are resolved to develop green power by purchasing renewable energy certificates and are becoming partner to the non-utility solar energy purchase in the US.
GW will receive 86.6 million KWh, AU will receive 30 million KWh and GWUH will receive 6.3 million KWh annually. The solar power will fulfill more than half of GW’s and AU’s electricity needs and more than a third of GWUH’s need.
Greg Wolf, president, Duke Energy Renewables said, “Duke Energy’s tie up with D.C. institutions in this project is an opportunity to demonstrates company’s leadership in sustainability by providing low-cost energy at a stable price.”
Solar power generated at the panel sites in North Carolina will move through an electrical grid into the D.C. regional grid. The project also offers economic benefits, both for the partners and North Carolina communities.
The project offers lots of construction jobs, increased sales of materials and consumables and an increase in the tax base.The support for solar energy enables the community to become part of the green environment movement.
The twenty year agreement will provide fixed pricing for the solar energy at a lower total price compared to current power solutions with more economic savings for partners.
Gary Farha, president and CEO, CFR, said, “The company played a vital role in materializing the project happen helping those who were in need of renewable energy solutions.”
CustomerFirst Renewables designed and structured the overall solution, including helping to select and negotiate the deal between the partners and Duke Energy.
This commitment is a crucial step towards carbon neutrality for the involved universities, continuing the pledge the institutions made with D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray in 2012 to make D.C. the greenest college town in America.