An 8-megawatt solar project planned for Mercer County Community College in New Jersey will deliver significant savings on greenhouse gas emissions, while also saving about $15 million over the next 15 years at no upfront cost, the school says. The Mercer County Improvement Authority will install the photovoltaic system.
The college says the project will have a positive impact on the state’s carbon footprint, as it’s expected to offset 7,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, it will offset the emissions of 20 tons of sulfur dioxide and 8.5 tons of nitrogen oxides, which cause smog and acid rain and trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments.
“We have pledged to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and integrate sustainability into the curriculum, and that is exactly what we are accomplishing with this project,” says Patricia Donohue, president of MCCC.
The ground-mounted solar system, to be installed on the east side of the West Windsor campus, is expected to meet 70 percent of the college’s electricity needs, yielding an approximate savings of $1 million per year.
MCCC is one of many schools nationally that are using solar resources to promote the health of the environment, save money and train students. According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, there are 473 solar photovoltaic installations on 295 campuses in 43 states and provinces in the United States.
More information about this school’s project is available here.
Mercer County Community College
www.mccc.edu
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