Elon University and eight other colleges and universities Pennsylvania are joining forces to bring a large-scale solar facility online in western Kentucky.
Eight institutions in North Carolina and Pennsylvania — Davidson College, Dickinson College, Elon University, Haverford College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, Swarthmore College and Wake Forest University — are supporting the Sebree Solar II project through a Power Purchase Agreement, which entails purchasing energy for 20 years.
The Sebree Solar II project by NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery energy storage, is set to begin construction in early 2025 and commence commercial operation by the end of 2026. It is projected to provide enough energy to annually power more than 24,000 homes when complete.
The solar facility will be near the town of Robards, Kentucky, near the Ohio River.
Elon University will pay for an amount of energy equal to 100% of the electricity used by its campus.
While electricity generated by the Sebree Solar II project cannot be transmitted directly to the consortium campuses, the colleges will receive renewable energy credits, which can be sold and have a market-driven value.
The institutions in the cohort will also receive access to data from the Sebree Solar II project for classroom use, as well as campus speaking engagements, site visits and student internships.
Elon is currently developing its next campuswide sustainability master plan, which will guide campus sustainability efforts from 2025 to 2035. This plan will include goals and strategies for a more sustainable campus, including climate action strategies to help Elon achieve carbon neutrality by 2037.
The Sebree Solar II project is an integral component of the university’s carbon neutrality strategy, said Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Elon.
“This collaboration will help Elon achieve its sustainability goals, provide educational opportunities to Elon students and facilitate adding a new solar energy facility to the electrical grid in Kentucky,” she said.
