The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a clean energy project between the University of Arizona and Tucson Electric Power that is expected to offset all of the university’s greenhouse gas emissions,
The Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday approved a partnership the university and Tucson Electric Power to run the campus primarily on renewable energy.
The proposal would make the school the largest research university nationwide with an initiative to offset the entirety of the university’s scope two emissions.
We made a commitment to become a more sustainable campus, and now we have in place a system that will make a significant impact in just two years,” said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins,in a press release. “I believe it is up to higher education institutions to lead the way on clean energy solutions. This university is already a leader in environmental and sustainability research, and we found a partner in TEP that shares our commitment to make effectual change.”
Under the agreement, TEP will dedicate portions of two new renewable energy projects to serving the energy needs of the University of Arizona, including a wind farm in New Mexico and a solar-plus-storage system southeast of Tucson, both of which are expected to begin service by late 2020.