Renewable Energy FAQs

If the new plant is electric, where will the carbon-free electricity to power the plant come from?

We are working with other local colleges to develop an off-site renewable energy generation facility using solar photovoltaic technology that will put new, renewable electricity onto our electrical grid, equivalent to the College’s projected electrical demand. Our electrical grid is operated by PJM Interconnection, a company that operates the electrical grid for all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. 

Will Swarthmore install solar on campus?

In addition to pursuing renewable energy procurement options, we are also exploring opportunities to install solar photovoltaics on campus to provide direct power for a portion of building energy needs. For example, the DCC will include approximately 400  kilowatts of solar capacity on its roof to directly address a percentage of the DCC energy load. While this will not directly power the geoexchange system, it will help reduce overall campus emissions related to electricity needs