GENEVA, N.Y. — Hobart and William Smith Colleges and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) have announced the completion of a 5-megawatt solar power system.
The solar system includes 15,000 panels on two sites and is expected to supply 50 percent of the electricity needs for the campus, according to a news release.
The project was built in two phases. The first, on Route 14 in Geneva, was begun in 2016. The second, on Gates Road in Seneca, was completed late last year.
“These solar projects are part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ work to reduce our carbon footprint and do what is right for the environment,” Carolee White, the colleges’ VP for finance and CFO, said in the release. “Along the way we hope to realize some financial savings, but our driving force has been to uphold and advance our commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Solar energy has grown more than 10-fold in New York state since 2011 with more than $2.8 billion in private investment. New York has about 12,000 solar-power-related jobs.
Contact McChesney at cmcchesney@cnybj.com