Solar Construction is Heating Up at Endicott

Photo by Sarah Creighton.

       The Beverly area grows greener everyday, and Change is Simple, Inc. would like to recognize Endicott College’s actions towards creating a more sustainable campus.

       The private college is currently erecting a solar parking lot canopy that is larger than a football field and will provide coverage and LED lighting for 255 cars.  “Once it is done, it will probably be the biggest solar parking lot canopy north of New Jersey,” said Sarah Creighton, Endicott’s Director of Sustainability.  “It will be a real leadership position for Endicott.”

       The college was also the first institution to undertake a power purchase agreement through Power Options, an energy buying consortium from whom the College negotiates electricity and natural gas supply contracts. SunEdison, a company specializing in solar energy, owns and operates the solar parking lot canopy and is responsible for all construction costs.

       The solar canopy will produce about 1,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year. It will provide energy for about 7% of total campus.

       “What it effectively does is create some diversity in our energy portfolio,” said Creighton, explaining that Endicott depends mostly on natural gas for both heating and electricity. “We are very vulnerable to natural gas, both in a positive way if the prices go down, and in a negative way if the prices go up.”

       “The way the power purchase agreement works is that it will reduce how much we buy from the grid.”

       This arrangement will relieve the college’s vulnerability to market changes, especially since the transmission costs are forecasted to increase. Endicott’s solar energy will be secured at a fixed rate for 20 years.

Photo by Sarah Creighton

       Although construction was predicted to conclude October 1, it has been slowed due to unforeseen site conditions. The completion of the solar parking lot canopy is expected before the snow.

      Before selecting the parking lot option, Endicott also considered a number of rooftop sites including the Post Center, the Library, and the Academic Center.  In addition to solar energy, Endicott has also looked into other alternative resources. Three years ago, a wind feasibility study found that the college has a lot of wind. However, the wind is located on a remote part of campus and it would require the construction of a large road.

      “Additionally, the study showed potential problems with noise that would need to be investigated further,” said Creighton. “A number of turbines in the region are facing noise complaints and a few are even are being shut down.  It seems prudent to wait and see how the technology will respond to those challenges.

       While “the wind isn’t going away,” said Creighton, “the solar panels are expected to start generating by the first of the year.”

       Change is Simple appreciates Endicott College’s actions to making Beverly, and the world, a greener place, and encourages the institution to continue to set an example.