Arizona Western College (AWC) has joined an increasing number of community colleges that are relying on solar energy to fuel their campuses.
At an event at AWC last month dubbed “Flip the Switch,” the college and its partners—which include a solar financier, a solar developer and the local utility—officially launched the college’s 5-megawatt solar installation that will provide nearly all of the college’s daytime electricity.
The college expects to save $3.5 million in 10 years, more than $15 million in 20 years, and as much as $62 million over 30 years. In addition to the cost savings, AWC noted that the 23-acre system will reduce the college's carbon footprint by producing enough energy annually to power 615 homes for one year—which is equal to about 16,837 barrels of oil.
The system—which is the third largest solar installation on a community college campus—will also serve educational, training and research purposes. For example, students will have opportunities to train on five different types of solar technologies. New curriculum offerings at the college will range from solar technician certificates to renewable energy degree programs, and partnerships are in the works with universities for continuing bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.
AWC’s workforce training is expected to lead to thousands of clean energy jobs needed to complete numerous solar projects planned in Arizona and other Southwest states.
“As a college that has worked to develop a strong science program, with facilities and scholarships that are the envy of the state, we are thrilled to integrate solar technology into our curriculum and our sustainability plan,” AWC President Glenn Mayle said at the December event.
Investing in solar energy as a financial strategy
Other colleges—concentrated across the Sunbelt region—are also investing in solar energy systems with the goal of being self-sufficient and even selling excess energy. Last summer, Butte College in California became the first college in the U.S. to go “grid-positive,” producing more than 100 percent of the electricity it uses from its on-site solar arrays.
Butte's arrays will generate more than 6.5 million kilowatt hours per year. The college estimates that it will save between $50 million and $75 million over 15 years, even after accounting for project costs and interest, by eliminating its electricity bill, getting paid for excess electricity production and avoiding future electricity rate increases.