Just in time for Earth Day and its 50th anniversary, Augustana College has announced plans to put solar panels on four campus buildings.
Kai Swanson, co-chair of the college's Climate Change Task Force, says a private company, Keystone Power Holdings, will install the panels, own them, and maintain them. And Augustana will buy the electricity that's generated at a fixed price.
"We as the host of these sites provide a steady customer base for Keystone Energy to buy this at a pre-determined rate. And then over time they're able to take advantage of some tax credits that make it advantageous from their perspective to be a partner like this."
Installation will begin this summer - on Centennial Hall, the Carver P.E. Center, Westerlin Residence Center, and the Pepsico Recreation Center - and should be completed early next year.
Once installed, the solar panels wil provide about eight per cent of the college's electric energy needs.
