Hampshire College Going 100% Solar Saving Money and Reducing Emissions

Hampshire college will be the first solar powered residential school in the US. This rural college located in Amherst Massachusetts is in the process of installing 15,000 solar panels on 19 acres of its 840-acre campus. When the installation is completed at the end of this year it will be the largest school based solar array in New England and one of the largest in the Eastern US.

These arrays will generate enough energy to power about 500 American homes. When the college achieves its goal of producing all of its electricity from solar it will generate a carbon savings equivalent to taking 650 cars off the road.

To reach their onsite renewable energy goals, Hampshire partnered with SolarCity who will build and operate the solar arrays and battery system. In addition to showing sustainability leadership, Hampshire will pay less for electricity than it does right now. The estimated saving will be around $400,000 per year for 20 years and up to $8 million total in electricity costs.

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