{"id":23929,"date":"2023-05-04T09:43:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T09:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightsourcebp.staging.1int.co.uk\/?post_type=project&p=23929"},"modified":"2026-01-06T19:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:19:09","slug":"penn-state-solar","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/lightsourcebp.staging.1int.co.uk\/de\/project\/penn-state-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn State Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Penn State solar<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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70MW powering 25% of Penn State University\u2019s state-wide electricity needs<\/h2>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Key numbers<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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70MW\u1d05\u1d04<\/h3>\n

\/53.5MW\u1d00\u1d04 capacity<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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12,600 homes<\/h3>\n

powered with renewable energy (equivalent)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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25%<\/h3>\n

of Penn State's annual power demand supplied<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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250<\/h3>\n

local jobs created<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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\n Current status<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Site selection & preliminary design<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Stakeholder outreach<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Permitting & environmental studies<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Land management & biodiversity planning<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Final engineering, financing & construction<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Penn State is one of the largest and most esteemed U.S. universities, educating 100,000 students on 24 campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In February 2019, Penn State and Lightsource bp announced that they\u2019d signed a 25-year contract for renewable electricity to power the university.<\/p>\n

On 15th October 2020, Lightsource bp and Penn State held a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony<\/a> to celebrate the successful completion and operation of the solar project.<\/p>\n

The agreement is for 70 megawatts of large-scale offsite solar, providing 25% of Penn State\u2019s state-wide electricity requirements. This development enabled the university to achieve its goal of a 35% greenhouse gas reduction by 2020<\/a>, while saving on their electricity bills and providing long-term budget certainty. The project also supports Pennsylvania\u2019s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), which mandates that a certain percentage of electricity be generated by solar photovoltaics, helping to diversify the Commonwealth\u2019s energy portfolio and increase security with locally generated power.<\/p>\n

One of the largest in the state, the project is comprised of over 150,000 solar panels installed across three sites, encompassing approximately 500 acres of land in Franklin County, outside of Chambersburg, and near Penn State\u2019s Mont Alto campus. The project was 100% financed and built by Lightsource bp, with all three sites entering commercial operation by the end of 2020.<\/p>\n

Both Penn State and Lightsource bp are incredibly proud of this solar project, and the opportunities it will offer both organizations, Penn State students and the local communities.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Information & resources<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve put together a collection of resources for anyone who\u2019d like to know more about our Penn State solar project:<\/p>\n

Penn State\u2019s Sustainability Institute<\/a><\/p>\n

Penn State\u2019s Office of the Physical Plant<\/a><\/p>\n

Download Information Leaflet<\/a><\/p>\n

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Solar farm FAQs<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve put together a list of the most commonly asked questions, and their answers.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n

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Coverage<\/h4>\n

Initial announcement<\/a><\/p>\n

Intern and research opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n

Conservation potential<\/a><\/p>\n

Research and engagement opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n

Pennsylvanian farmers switching to solar crops<\/a><\/p>\n

Groundbreaking announcement<\/a><\/p>\n

Article in EnerG Magazine (page 6)<\/a><\/p>\n

Virtual ribbon cutting ceremony<\/a><\/p>\n

Sheep and solar panels: Using solar sites for pastureland<\/a><\/p>\n

Savings from solar energy exceeds University\u2019s expectations<\/a><\/p>\n

Penn State\u2019s solar energy project digs deep for conservation<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Videos of our Penn State Solar project<\/h2>\n

Watch the videos below to learn more about the project, from construction to job creation and more.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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