Shenandoah University now boasts the largest rooftop solar power system of any Virginia college or university.
“We are proud to highlight Shenandoah University’s belief in and dedication to environmental stewardship. With this installation, Shenandoah demonstrates not only the power of solar energy, but also the power of people working together to create a better tomorrow.”
President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.
Through a partnership with the solar power company Secure Futures, of Staunton, Virginia, a total of 1,337 solar panels are spread across three buildings:
Shenandoah’s solar panels have the capacity to produce around 500 kilowatts of electricity. Annual output of electricity will be approximately 675,000 kilowatt hours.
Each year, the solar power generated at Shenandoah will be equivalent to the amount of carbon in:
- 258 tons of coal burned
- the electricity use of 82 homes
- the consumption of more than 53,000 gallons of gasoline
Through the use of this solar project, the university is projected to save a total of $3.1 million in avoided costs for electricity from producing its own solar power over the 35-year lifespan of the equipment. Net savings to the university on electricity (after all costs are taken out) are projected to total more than $1.5 million over the same period.
The project is funded through Virginia’s first solar crowdfunding campaign
funded in part through Secure Futures.
“On-campus solar energy at Shenandoah University is being funded in part through Virginia’s first solar crowdfunding campaign. Through this innovative program, members of the community are able to invest in the development of solar projects at five different non-profit institutions around Virginia, starting with Shenandoah University.”
Tony Smith | CEO of Secure Futures
About Secure Futures, LLC
As a market and policy leader, Secure Futures builds, owns, manages and funds affordable resilient solar solutions for schools, colleges, hospitals and businesses. Headquartered in Staunton, Virginia, the company combines state-of–the-art solar technology with an innovative business model to make commercial-scale solar power readily affordable in Virginia, helping customers to realize the economic, environmental and community benefits of solar energy. In 2017, Secure Futures became a Certified B Corporation, having met the exacting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability established by the nonprofit B Lab. For more information, visit www.securefutures.solar.