Brown University to Offset On-Campus Emissions with Solar and Wind Power

Brown University, a Council member, has finalized two agreements that will allow it to offset the emissions from all on-campus electricity usage. Through a combination of a solar project in Rhode Island and a wind project in Texas, Brown hopes to lead by example in the sustainability field.

In 2007, Brown committed to reducing its on-campus gas emissions by 42 percent by 2020. With these two agreements, Brown will more than meet this goal. One of the projects will be a solar field in North Kingstown that will provide 70 percent of Brown’s energy supply. The rest of the emissions will be offset through a wind farm in Texas.

Christina Paxson, President of Brown University, commented, “Basically, what this will do is decarbonize all of Brown’s purchased energy sources – non on-campus combustion – but what we buy in the form of electricity. We did so in a way that promises to be sustainable and also advance Rhode Island’s clean energy agenda.”

The NEC applauds these efforts by Brown University to paving the way toward a more sustainable energy future.