725-Panel Solar System To Fully Power Raritan Valley College Center

Alexis Tarrazi of Patch writes:

The energy produced by this system is the equivalent of taking 883 gas-powered cars off the road or preserving 4,860 acres of forest.

Raritan Valley Community College is going even more green with the latest installation of a new 313.6kilowatt (kW) ground-mounted solar system.

The 725 -panel system — which can produce up to 386 Megawatt hours (MWh) per year of clean, renewable energy — is fully powering RVCC’s two-story, 44,000 square-foot Workforce Training Center.

“This project is a win for the College and the environment…”
Stanley Chin
President/CEO of Greenskies

In addition to powering the WTC, the system is configured for remote net metering, allowing to power of other buildings on the RVCC campus.

The energy produced by this system will offset 4,110 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking more than 883 gas-powered cars off the road or preserving 4,860 acres of forest, according to US EPA Greenhouse Gas Calculator.

The system was installed by Greenskies Clean Focus. RVCC signed an agreement with Greenskies to purchase the power generated by the array at a low, fixed rate for the next 15 years.

“This project is a win for the College and the environment,” said Stanley Chin, President and CEO of Greenskies. “Our colleges shouldn’t have to decide between rising electricity prices, expanding educational opportunities to their students, or making good on sustainability commitments. All three are important for the future of our communities.”

The RVCC campus now houses three solar arrays, in addition to other eco-conscious efforts like publicly available electric car charging stations, two green roofs and a green wall, numerous pollinator gardens, a rain garden, three rainwater harvesting systems, and four LEED Certified buildings.

There is a green roof of native plants that is visible from the top floor of Hunterdon Hall, looking out the windows at the end of the hall by the bathrooms. RVCC has a two-story atrium “living wall” of vegetation known as a green wall located in the Bateman Student Center. (Suzanne Kosempel)

The College also produces a significant part of its electrical needs via a gas-powered 1.4 Megawatt combined heat and power plant.

“RVCC is committed to preserving the environment through ongoing sustainability programs,” said John Trojan, VP Finance and Facilities. “There was no capital outlay or operating expenses for the College. Vanguard built, Greenskies will operate and maintain the array, and RVCC will pay for the electricity at a contractually-defined, predictable rate.”