Sessions on solar garden project slated for campus community
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Two briefings for members of the campus community will take place in November to provide information on a solar garden initiative that will result in a photovoltaic array being sited on Western Michigan University's Parkview Campus to harvest clean solar energy.
The sessions are set for 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 10 and 12, in the Parkview Room of Floyd Hall. During each briefing, University officials will be joined by personnel from Consumers Energy to provide an overview of the technology as well as an outline of how a solar garden is operated and the benefits that accrue from such a facility.
A solar garden display and details on the WMU solar garden will be available to view and those attending will be provided with information to take away. Each session also will feature a question-and-answer period.
The WMU solar garden, adjacent to Floyd Hall, will be among the first large-scale solar projects Consumers Energy will build around the state. They are part of an effort expected to be operational in 2016.
About the initiative
During its August 2015 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees authorized the University to enter into a series of agreements to grant an approximately 8.5-acre parcel to Consumers Energy for construction of the solar garden PV array in an area along U.S. 131 and immediately west of the engineering complex.
The electricity produced by the solar garden will be delivered to the Consumers distribution system. Consumer Energy’s electric customers can receive solar energy credits from the program. The University will receive such energy credits in the coming years. The agreement also has the potential to generate solar energy education initiatives.
Learn more at consumersenergy.com/solargardens.
As part of the initiative Consumers has committed to provide WMU $120,00 in funding for a Solar Learning Module that will educate WMU students, provide exposure to K-12 students and train emergency first responders in how to deal with solar arrays. Consumers also will provide $55,000 for WMU to construct up to three additional solar systems for research and educational use by faculty and students.
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