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The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Solar Panels to Provide Half of Campus Energy

ANNA KOVACEVICH/THE HOYA A partnership between Georgetown and the Origis Energy USA company aims to use solar panels to provide 50 percent of energy required by campus facilities by 2019.

Georgetown University has partnered with Origis Energy USA to build a solar power system off campus that could provide nearly 50 percent of the campus’s electricity by the 2019-20 academic year.

The agreement, announced Monday, aligns with the university’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Origis will install 105,000 solar panels on a 518-acre property in La Plata, Md. The panels will be owned and operated by Origis and produce 75,000 megawatt hours of power each year, according to a company press release.

Construction is slated to start in January 2019 after the company completes research and permitting. The system is expected to be fully operational by June of that same year.

The deal involves no up-front costs to Georgetown and is expected to generate significant electricity cost savings in the long term, according to Vice President of Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey.

Morey said the agreement would allow the university to meet its ambitious green goals.

“The initiative helps fulfill Georgetown University’s sustainability mission, including the University’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint 50 percent by the year 2020 – a goal which we met in 2014 by purchasing 100 percent Renewable Energy Certificates and now strive to meet through new investments in energy efficiency, conservation and new renewable power projects,” Morey wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Johan Vanhee, business development managing director at Origis Energy, said the university made a wise choice in selecting solar energy as a renewable alternative.

“I think we are currently the most cost-efficient energy source there is in the U.S. markets,” Vanhee said. “Because of economies of scale we are able to offer energy prices to the customer, utilities, universities, commercial and industrial customers, that are the most cost-effective in the current energy market.”

Georgetown University Student Association Deputy Chief of Staff Zachary Schroepfer (MSB ’19), who has previously advocated on behalf for sustainability on campus, said the agreement reflected an increased commitment on behalf of the administration to sustainability.

“GUSA definitely views sustainability as a priority. With a policy team dedicated to sustainability issues to focus on making our school more environmentally friendly, we as an organization want to advocate for a more sustainable campus for our student body,” Schroepfer wrote in an email to The Hoya.

The Origis deal builds on the university’s smaller, on-campus solar panel projects, Schroepfer said.

“We found out earlier that they would be renewing the solar panels on the [Intercultural Center] and adding additional ones around campus; however, these weren’t to be used to power our school, but to be sold back to the [Washington,] D.C. power grid,” Schroepfer wrote. “However, this new announcement shows the university’s commitment to a more sustainable footprint.”

Vanhee said Georgetown’s status as a leading university greatly motivated Origis to pursue a partnership.

“It is clear that any party in the solar space is very interested in working together with an icon in the academic world such as Georgetown University,” Vanhee said. “I think Georgetown University has an absolute leadership role and many universities will follow the example of Georgetown University.”

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  • A

    AssmaaJun 27, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    I am glad to see that not only in homes or countries or even companies but also universities and many more are contributing to the solar energy revolution, I think it is great to look out for what we already have plenty of like the sun.

    Reply
  • C

    Charles BrownApr 3, 2018 at 6:08 am

    Georgetown University planned to move with cost effective and renewable source energy and non polluted thing .. This will be motivated for other universities also. Nice move

    Reply
  • A

    Ajay VermaFeb 7, 2018 at 4:49 am

    It is really nice to hear that universities are going green and implementing solar panels.Thank you for sharing this valuable piece of information.

    Reply
  • G

    Go Solar ProgramOct 23, 2017 at 1:42 am

    Thank you for taking the time to provide such an informative and helpful post.

    Reply
  • J

    John CarlinSep 22, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Your picture is a little misleading. Unfortunately at this time the university is not updating the solar panel system on the ICC nor adding solar panels to major buildings on the campus proper. Let’s hope they will

    Reply