Washington and Lee University
W&L has contracted with Secure Futures L.L.C., a solar-energy developer based in Staunton, Va., to install two solar photovoltaic arrays, totaling approximately 450 kilowatts, at two locations on campus. Together they will be the largest solar project in Virginia, generating enough power to light up, for example, 44 average homes.
The first array, with a capacity of 120 kilowatts, will be installed on a canopy over the upper deck of the parking garage. Lewis Hall will host the second array, a rooftop installation with a capacity of 330 kilowatts. They are scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
“This is an important step for Washington and Lee as part of our continuing emphasis on sustainability,” said President Ken Ruscio ’76. “This is another instance of how we are aligning our institutional practices with what we preach to our students about their duties as responsible citizens and their obligations to future generations.”
The ro
of of Lewis Hall will have 1,032 high-efficiency photovoltaic panels manufactured by the Sun- Power Corp., and the parking-deck canopy will hold 540 photovoltaic panels made by Sanyo. W&L has entered into a 20-year power-purchase agreement with Secure Futures to buy the solar-generated electricity.
Secure Futures offers clean, affordable solar energy generated on site to colleges, universities and other institutions operating in the public interest. By agreeing to purchase solar power, customers can reduce their electricity costs and protect themselves against future price increases from electric utilities, without the high up-front cost of installing their own solar-power equipment.
The University pursued this opportunity as the latest element in its sustainability strategy, with a clear eye on the economics. “The use of the power-purchase agreement makes this a financially viable project for the University, as it allows us to purchase the electricity generated from the project at a far more effective cost than had we built and operated the structures ourselves,” said Steve McAllister, vice president for finance. “In addition, the structure of the agreement provides an option for us to purchase the system at a later date. This option may prove to yield an even larger economic benefit.”
W&L has undertaken numerous sustainability initiatives to date across campus. It has signed both the Presidents Climate Commitment, an initiative of U.S. colleges and universities, and the international Talloires Declaration to incorporate sustainability in teaching, research and operations. Campuswide action includes composting, local and organic foods, energy conservation, purchasing, transportation and the management of the physical plant. In addition, departments ranging from the University store to printing and copying services have committed to using fewer resources and generating less waste.