PHILADELPHIA, PA — Community College of Philadelphia will install rooftop solar arrays at its main and Northeast campuses beginning this summer, using state grant funding and an energy performance contract to reduce grid dependence while supporting Pennsylvania’s expansion of renewable power at public schools.
Ameresco Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) will develop the systems at the college’s Spring Garden Street campus and Northeast Regional Campus. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The project is supported by Pennsylvania’s Solar for Schools grant program, which helps educational institutions finance solar energy installations.
The college did not disclose the project’s cost, generating capacity or projected energy savings.
The installations will provide on-site electricity at both campuses, reducing the amount of power the college purchases from the electric grid. The project is also intended to improve energy resilience across its facilities.
Community College of Philadelphia plans to incorporate the solar systems into educational opportunities, giving students access to operating renewable-energy infrastructure as part of their studies.
“This project is an important step in our work to build a more sustainable and resilient campus for our students and the broader community,” Tim Trzaska, the college’s director of construction management, stated.
Ameresco Co-President Louis Maltezos described colleges as important participants in the transition to renewable power, noting that the installations would support campus operations while providing students with exposure to solar technology.
The project will be structured as an energy performance contract, an arrangement typically designed to finance infrastructure improvements through anticipated reductions in utility and operating costs.
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