Sonoma State University is getting a move on sustainable energy by installing solar panels across campus. The project, which will be started over the summer of 2023, should be completed by summer 2024. Students are excited to see the change of renewable energy coming to campus.

Fifth-year business administration major, Kyle Synder, loves the idea of SSU bringing solar panels to campus and was surprised to see how many panels are planned for the project Snyder said, “Actually it’s funny because literally the year after I graduated, my high school got solar panels and I thought, ‘oh wow this is so cool’, because my car would get so hot sitting there while I was in class all day. It’s nice to have the shade and it’s actually practical.” Snyder continued, “I also just think it’s a great idea and obviously the goal is to become completely sustainable. With our school progressing I think it will help. I was surprised to see how much coverage there will be.”

Vladimir Bienvenue, a senior wine business major gives recommendations on other ways SSU could become even more sustainable. Bienvenue said, “SSU can utilize a variety of tactics to add to its energy sustainability like Wind Energy, Solar Hot Water, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell, and Green Heating and Cooling with systems like Air Source Heat Pumps or Ground Geothermal Pumps.”

SSU is in a 30 year contract with a company named Sun Power. Dana Twedell, Associate Vice President for facilities management elaborated further on the project.  Twedell said, “During the 30 year contract we will pay Sun Power a fixed flat rate for the energy the solar array produces.  We can only assume PG&E rates will continue to increase over the next 30 years.  With this in mind we anticipate campus utility savings, being that we’ll have a 30 year fixed rate with Sun Power which is currently at a lower rate than PG&E’s rates today.”

Twedell continued to explain the savings as a result of this project over the 30 year contract, SSU estimates a campus utility savings of approximately $6 million dollars. The project is being designed, constructed, and commissioned by Sun Power.  For the term of the contract, the solar array, and all its maintenance upkeep, will belong to Sun Power. The only expense SSU will have would be the monthly fee for the solar energy the campus consumes.  

This project will begin after commencement ceremonies summer 2023 and with hopes to be completed before students return in the Fall 2023. SSU will be only taking one parking lot offline at a time to help minimize inconvenience for students. Once finished, students can expect  to have covered parking lots that are multipurpose and produce renewable energy.

SSU is also embarking on other projects which support sustainable energy. According to the SSU Climate Action Plan presentation on transportation goals, in the future, the school will also replace all 36 fleet passenger vehicles with electric vehicles by 2035. The Climate Action Plan outlines an average of three vehicles will be switched out per year. SSU will also implement an “EV-first” vehicle purchasing policy to ensure that EVs are considered as the primary replacement option for every vehicle.