Kent State University at Salem has made its next steps in the university’s Energy Master Plan by installing sustainable, cost effective solar panels.
A recent story by Salem News detailed the project’s importance and the progress made so far by the Salem and East Liverpool campuses.
In 2020, the Kent State University Board of Trustees approved a plan to install power-saving solar panels at six of Kent State’s regional campuses. When finished, the project will save the university $1.5 million over the 25-year-long contract, while producing up to 56 percent of the total electricity required to power the regional campuses.
David Dees, Ph.D., interim vice president for Kent State System Integration, told Salem News, “I applaud Kent State’s vision and the commitment to our environment demonstrated by this project.”
The addition of solar panels is one of Kent State’s steps to eliminating the university’s carbon footprint. The project will reduce the usage of carbon dioxide, a compound which is a leading cause of global warming, by 617 tons over the 25 years of the contract, according to Salem News.
“Solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source and this is a way for us to be good stewards of the local environment,” Dees told the paper.
After the solar panels are installed, an outdoor learning space will be created by wildflowers and pollinators to restore balance and promote a healthy ecosystem.
To read the full story, visit www.salemnews.net/news/local-news/2021/01/ksu-salem-goes-green-with-solar-panels/.
For more on Kent State’s Master Plan, visit www.kent.edu/kent/news/kent-state-board-approves-transformational-projects-create-new-signature-gateway and
www.kent.edu/today/news/regional-campuses-power-forward-solar-additions.