Kent State University at Salem and East Liverpool moving forward with solar power upgrades
The two Kent State University campuses in Columbiana County have begun work installing solar panels which will lower energy costs and reduce the university's carbon footprint.
The project at Kent State University at Salem will install over 1,500 solar panels and will be mounted on the ground. At the East Liverpool campus the solar panels will be limited to 232 and installed on the roof of Purinton Hall due to lack of ground space. The installations are part of the university's Energy Master Plan which aims to reduce the energy costs and carbon footprints at all of Kents State University's satellite campuses. After reviewing proposals, Kent State University went with TEN NINE Energy LLC in an arrangement that will require no upfront capital from the university with electricity being purchased from the developer.
According to information released by the university, the installation underway at Salem is expected to result in over $275,000 in savings in energy costs over the 25 years of the contract with TEN NINE Energy. The electricity harnessed by the panels will be able to power 73 percent of the electricity on campus. The area energy grid will benefit, particularly in the summer months when air conditioning can put a strain on the system. The impact of the solar panel project will also result in a reduction in the campus' carbon footprint by 617 tons of carbon dioxide. In an additional step to improve the local environment, the area surrounding the solar panels will be planted with native wildflowers and pollinators, with the potential of becoming an outdoor learning area for students in botany, horticulture, and environmental science courses.
Benefits at the East Liverpool campus will also be significant. The university states that the 232 solar panels going on the roof of Purinton Hall will result in energy cost savings of $40,000 over 25 years. The electricity produced will go directly to the building and will bring about a reduction of 89 tons of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere, reducing the campus' carbon footprint by an amount equivalent to removing 18 cars from the roadways.
Dean David Dees, chief administrative officer of the Columbiana County campuses recently expressed his enthusiasm about the impact of the installations, "I applaud Kent State's vision and the commitment to our environment demonstrated by this project. Solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source and this is a way for us to be good stewards of the local environment."