As a part of its efforts to lead California’s goal of a carbon-free grid by 2045, Stanford University has announced its plans to reach 100 percent reliance on the use of renewable electricity across its campus by 2021.
The university has announced a collaboration with Recurrent Energy to build an 88-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant, the second solar generating plant to complete the school’s transition to clean energy.
“As a university, we are pursuing an ambitious plan to further reduce our carbon footprint, and our second solar plant is a critical new component of that plan,” Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said.
“Sustainability is a major focus for Stanford and a priority for our local community. Completing our transition to clean power builds on the groundbreaking research of Stanford faculty and students, and it marks a major advance in our efforts to provide a sustainable learning environment for our campus.”
Already, the university has recorded an improvement in cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 66 percent. With the start of the second solar plant in 2021, the university is expecting to cut the emissions up to 80 percent below peak levels.
“Stanford’s deliberate and comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions dovetails with the interdisciplinary research and teaching on campus and our commitment to being a good neighbor and citizen,” said Robert Reidy, vice president for land, buildings and real estate.
A Sustainability Design Team composed of faculty, staff and students are also working on finding the solutions to making the university carbon-free.
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