Wesleyan University has selected Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC. to construct a 750kWac ground-mounted solar PV array at the University’s Long Lane and Wadsworth Road on the campus. The solar array is expected to generate 1.2 million kWh of clean electricity annually.
"We are proud to be partnering with Wesleyan on this initiative," said James Desantos, Greenskies' vice president of Business Development. "As a leader in sustainability since the 1980s, Wesleyan's vision and efforts to create a sustainable campus are unparalleled and we are excited to be a partner in this endeavor."
Greenskies’ new solar PV array will work in collaboration with two existing natural gas co-generation facilities on the Wesleyan campus and will supply power directly to the university's existing micro-grid. The plan also calls for several campus buildings that are not currently part of the micro-grid system to be tied into the network. The new solar installation will help Wesleyan University reduce cost while increase energy independence.
Wesleyan and Greenskies will enter into a power-purchase agreement, where Greenskies will design, develop, finance, own and maintain the solar installation for the next 20 years at no cost to the university while Wesleyan agrees to purchase 100% of the electricity produced at the site at a significantly discounted rate. Greenskies will start construction in the spring of 2016 and is anticipating that the project will be completed by Sept. 1, 2016.