The projects were made possible through a power purchase agreement between Tufts and solar developer Solect Energy. PPAs are contracts in which a developer funds the purchase and installation of a solar energy system on a customer’s property – in this case, Tufts’ campus -- and then sells the electricity generated from the array to the host and community at a discount to retail rates. The Science Engineering Complex now dons a new roof-mounted solar photovoltaic installation. Tufts has six total solar arrays on its various campuses that help save the university money and make the power grid greener.
The arrays are owned, operated and were installed by Solect Energy, a commercial-scale solar developer and installer in Massachusetts, in collaboration with PowerOptions, an energy-buying consortium for public entities and not for profits.
“This agreement is a win for all involved. While Solect retains the renewable energy credits (RECS) associated with the solar production, Tufts maintains its commitment to making sustainability a university priority by contributing to the decarbonization of the New England electrical grid, which helps reduce our carbon footprint,” said Barbara Stein, vice president of operations at Tufts. “Solect Energy, in turn, will sell the RECs to the utility, National Grid, helping it meet its requirements under the Massachusetts renewable energy portfolio standard.”
The new systems include:
In all, Tufts has six solar arrays on its various campuses that help save the university money and make the power grid greener.
Tufts’ commitment to carbon neutrality is one of several goals it adopted as part of Second Nature’s Climate Commitment, signed by Tufts in 2016.
