GHG Emissions, Utilities, Sourcing Renewables  -  August 23, 2019

Arizona U expands use of renewables

The University of Arizona (UA) is partnering with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) on a 20-year green energy plan for the purchase of solar and wind power that begins with an initiative to offset all of its Scope 2 GHG emissions by December 2020. The newly-sealed agreement, pending approval by the Arizona Corporation Commission, calls for providing UA with enough clean, emission-free power from new solar, storage and wind systems to serve all of its purchased power needs. 

If approved, noted a report by UA News, UA will be the largest research university in the country with a plan in place to offset greenhouse gases resulting from the generation of electricity, heat or steam purchased from a utility provider. 

The agreement calls for TEP to dedicate portions of two new renewable energy projects to serve the energy needs of the University, including a wind farm in New Mexico and a solar-plus-storage system southeast of Tucson. All should be in service by the end of next year. TEP expects to provide more than 28% of its power from renewable resources in 2021, almost double the 2025 goal for Arizona.

“We made a commitment to become a more sustainable campus, and now we have in place a system that will make a significant impact in just two years,” said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. “I believe it is up to higher education institutions to lead the way on clean energy solutions. This university is already a leader in environmental and sustainability research, and we found a partner in TEP that shares our commitment to make effectual change. We have a forward-looking team to make these changes a rapid reality.”

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