Governor Deval Patrick visited the Worcester State campus today to view the university’s solar panel installation, the largest on any college campus in the state and the largest in Worcester, according to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The 540 solar panels on the roof of the Learning Resource Center generate more than 140,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough energy to supply electricity to 20 homes of about 2,800 square feet each.
On February 28, 2007, the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (MRET), now the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC), awarded the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) $560,000 to support a 105KW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic installation on Worcester State’s Learning Resource Center. The project also received funding through the IRS Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs), which are 0% interest loans from the federal government for clean energy projects. The total project cost was $832,373. The solar panels are manufactured by Marlborough, Massachusetts-based Evergreen Solar, and the system installation was completed by GroSolar on July 16, 2009.
Governor Patrick viewed the installation to highlight his commitment to promoting sustainable development, maximizing energy efficiency, growing the clean energy sector, and reducing our environmental footprint. Since taking office, the Governor has worked with legislative partnership to pass five landmark pieces of legislation that have made Massachusetts a national leader in clean energy innovation and addressing the challenge of global climate change: Green Communities Act, the Clean Energy Biofuels Act, the Green Jobs Act, the Climate and Green Jobs Act, and the Oceans Act. The Patrick-Murray Administration has also launched several clean energy initiatives to ensure Massachusetts remains on the cutting edge of green technology.
While he was on campus, the Governor also heard about other campus sustainability initiatives, including the LEED Gold certification of the renovated Helen G. Shaughnessy Administration Building. In addition, the Governor met with participants and leaders of a national field hockey camp operated by US Sports Camps, based in California.
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