91ֿ at Salem has made its next steps in the university’s Energy Master Plan by installing sustainable, cost effective solar panels.
A recent story by detailed the project’s importance and the progress made so far by the Salem and East Liverpool campuses.
In 2020, the 91ֿ Board of Trustees approved a plan to install power-saving solar panels at six of 91ֿ’s regional campuses. When finished, the project will save the university $1.5 million over the 25-year-long contract, while producing up to 56 percent of the total electricity required to power the regional campuses.
David Dees, Ph.D., interim vice president for 91ֿ System Integration, told Salem News, “I applaud 91ֿ’s vision and the commitment to our environment demonstrated by this project.”
The addition of solar panels is one of 91ֿ’s steps to eliminating the university’s carbon footprint. The project will reduce the usage of carbon dioxide, a compound which is a leading cause of global warming, by 617 tons over the 25 years of the contract, according to Salem News.
“Solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source and this is a way for us to be good stewards of the local environment,” Dees told the paper.
After the solar panels are installed, an outdoor learning space will be created by wildflowers and pollinators to restore balance and promote a healthy ecosystem.
To read the full story, visit .
For more on 91ֿ’s Master Plan, visit www.kent.edu/kent/news/kent-state-board-approves-transformational-projects-create-new-signature-gateway and
www.kent.edu/today/news/regional-campuses-power-forward-solar-additions.
