Solar project to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 600 to 700 tons annually
Author: Erin Blasko
The University of Notre Dame will install a 46,000-square-foot solar array on the west side of campus, along Indiana 933, as part of an ongoing effort to diversify its energy supply and achieve net zero campus carbon emissions by 2050. The county council voted in favor of the project on Tuesday (March 14), clearing the way for work to begin this summer. Accounting for potential supply chain issues, the timeline for completion is one to two years. The facility will sit on open land near the northeast corner of 933 and Dorr Road, behind WNDU studios. As a clean, renewable source of energy, the project will provide about 1 percent of the electricity for campus while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 600 to 700 tons annually. That’s equivalent to removing between 117 and 137 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road. The project, including access drives and a 6-foot security fence, will occupy about half the site. The other half will remain open space, with a mix of pollinator-friendly and native plants. Plans call for 2 square feet of plantings per 1 square foot of panels in compliance with local zoning. The panels will produce minimal glare thanks to an anti-reflective coating. Traffic along 933 will not be impacted. “The West Campus Solar Project will provide another renewable energy resource for campus along with the recently completed hydro facility in downtown South Bend, reducing the campus carbon footprint and providing added energy reliability and resilience,” said Paul Kempf, assistant vice president for utilities and maintenance at Notre Dame. “We further hope that this project provides a visible reminder to all that pass by of both the University’s and the community’s commitment to combating climate change.”