PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – To sustain more renewable energy on campus, the University of Pittsburgh has partnered with Vesper Energy to launch the Gaucho Solar Project – a massive solar farm located in both Allegheny and Beaver counties. The project will supply over 35,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, 100% of which will go straight to Pitt. Gaucho Solar is the largest solar power project to date in Southwestern Pennsylvania and will provide 18% of Pitt’s total electricity usage. This will cut the university’s carbon dioxide production by over 15,000 tons every year, helping it reach a more sustainable source of power.
The University of Pittsburgh is planning to be carbon-neutral by 2037 – per Aurora Sharrard, Executive Director of Sustainability – and run off of 100% clean energy. Solar power is a relatively cheap source, so Gaucho Solar will not only help with Pitt’s environmental efforts but also reduce spending on power in the long term. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August and construction in November, it’s only a matter of time before Pitt takes a big step in sustainability.
Credit: The University of Pittsburgh