Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

CSU Pueblo Announces Net-Zero Efficiency with Completion of Solar Array

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/08/21

Colorado State University Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo., recently announced that it has become the first university in the state to achieve net-zero efficiency. The achievement comes with the completion of a 23-acre solar array on the north side of campus, which has already begun supplying solar power to all academic buildings. The project began as a 25-year power purchase agreement with Johnson Controls.

“Controlling energy costs is not only sustainable and the right thing to do, but it also allows us to keep higher education affordable for our students,” said CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet. “Our solar project, as well as other campus-wide energy savings programs that Johnson Controls made possible, will allow us to minimize energy costs for the next two decades, allowing us to pass on these savings to our students. We are working hard to keep higher education affordable and within reach for the people of Pueblo and Southern Colorado.”

The solar project began in February 2019 as a partnership among the university, Johnson Controls, Capital Dynamics and Black Hills Energy in Pueblo, according to a news release. The array will allow the university to generate excess power and put it back into the grid. The CSU System Board of Governors approved the project based on its forethought and a feasibility study guaranteeing financial savings for the university. The project also aligns with the university’s goals of sustainable living and energy efficiency.

“To become the first campus in Colorado to reach net-zero efficiency is a remarkable achievement, and we commend the University’s leadership for its vision and determination to reach this milestone,” said Nate Manning, President of Building Solutions North America at Johnson Controls. “This achievement is a beacon of what we can accomplish together. We are proud to have partnered with CSU Pueblo for more than 20 years and, working alongside Capital Dynamics and Black Hills Energy, create sustainable, energy efficient and healthy environments at the University and across Pueblo.”

The project involved the installation of a photovoltaic system with solar panels and a rechargeable battery, according to CSU Pueblo’s Craig Cason, Associate Vice President for Facilities and the project lead. “The project is possible with a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) and a long-term lease agreement on approximately 23 acres on the north side of campus,” he said.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.