SUNY’s New Solar Array Powers Electric Vehicles

NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz’s latest renewable energy project came on line this month with the installation of a 5kilowatt solar array that are now being used to power a garage and to recharge the batteries of the fleet of electric vehicles that were acquired in an earlier environmental initiative. This is the fourth solar installation on the campus and it follows close on the heels of the 5 KW solar array that was installed on top of the Wooster Science Building last summer.

Brian Pine, the Director of Facilities at the college, secured a grant from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Central Hudson to pay for the new solar panels. “This project is especially exciting because we’re using solar power to charge zero emission electric vehicles. It really demonstrates the possibility of achieving full carbon neutrality,” stated Pine.

KT Tobin, chair of the campus Sustainability Committee adds, “We not only educate our students on environmental issues, but we seek to make the campus a model of ecological sustainability. This system of powering our vehicles with renewable energy is emblematic of SUNY New Paltz’s commitment to sustainability.”