Utah State University (USU) has teamed up with Castle Gate Engineering to significantly increase its solar energy production on campus. This new effort will add over 1 megawatt (1,058 kilowatts) of solar power across four locations in Cache Valley.
The solar upgrades include:
- Nearly 500 kilowatts on the roof of the Stan Laub Indoor Practice Facility.
- Over 150 kilowatts added to the existing 180-kilowatt system on the Gateway Parking Structure.
- More than 200 kilowatts on the roof of the Sam Skaggs Family Equine Center at USU’s South Farm in Wellsville.
- Nearly 200 kilowatts on the roof of the Caine Dairy milking facility in Wellsville.
Together, these systems are expected to generate more than 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
The energy produced by this expansion is enough to:
- Power about 150 average Utah homes annually.
- Offset the carbon emissions from burning over 1.2 million pounds of coal.
- Prevent over 1,200 metric tons of CO2 emissions every year—equivalent to taking more than 260 passenger cars off the road.
“This project is not just about going green,” said Zachary Cook, utilities energy manager at USU Facilities. “It is also a smart investment for long-term financial stability.”
The increased solar capacity will help USU:
- Protect against rising and unpredictable utility prices by securing part of its energy costs.
- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels like natural gas and coal.
- Improve the university’s ability to handle changes in energy markets and regulations.
By producing its own clean energy, USU expects to save significantly on utility bills over the life of the solar systems, which are designed to last 25 to 30 years or more.
In addition to these four projects, USU has three more solar installations in the planning or construction stages. These will add nearly 950 kilowatts of capacity, further expanding the university’s renewable energy efforts and reinforcing its leadership in sustainable campus infrastructure.
