Colorado State University (CSU) will benefit from a 5.75-MWDC virtual net metering solar project being developed by Pivot Energy, a major renewable energy independent power producer.
Pivot Energy will construct a ground-mounted solar plant in Weld County as part of the collaboration. Much of Colorado will be served by the Xcel Energy electric system, which will receive the generated power directly. To support CSU in achieving its sustainability objectives, all renewable energy credits will be transferred to the institution without increasing power prices.
Colorado Senate Bill 21-261, approved in 2021, established a scheme called virtual net metering, which allows businesses to utilize the energy generated by off-site solar systems. Without the need to install solar on-site, Pivot will design, build, own, and operate a virtual net-metering solar plant, which will provide CSU with sustainable power under a 20-year subscription agreement.
“We are very excited to announce this agreement with Pivot Energy, as it significantly advances CSU toward our goals of utilizing 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040.”
Said Campus Energy Coordinator Stacey Baumgarn.
“When this project is completed and begins delivering renewable electricity, CSU will be 11 million kilowatt hours a year closer to our 100% renewable electricity goal, at no net cost to the university.”
It is anticipated that construction will start the following winter and be finished in the fourth quarter of 2026. With solar panels that would cover more than four-and-a-half football fields, the project will eventually provide enough energy to power about 1,200 households a year.
“We’re proud to partner with Colorado State University on this new and impactful solar project that advances renewable energy in Colorado.”
Said Matt Brenn, director of community solar subscriptions at Pivot Energy.
“Supporting CSU’s renewable energy goals with locally generated solar power is a significant example of how educational institutions can lead the way toward a carbon-free future.”
According to the Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Certification System created by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, CSU became the first institution globally to get a Platinum certification in 2015. In 2024, CSU achieved a flawless score in The Princeton Review’s Green College Honor Roll rankings for the eleventh consecutive year and secured another top-four placement in AASHE’s Sustainable Campus Index.
About half of the electricity that CSU currently uses, including that which it generates on campus and buys from utilities, comes from renewable sources, according to Baumgarn. The new solar electricity made possible by the Pivot agreement will raise the size of CSU’s solar portfolio by nearly 50%. He continued by saying that achieving the 2030 target of 100% renewable power requires more than simply adding additional renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind; it also entails reducing CSU’s electricity use through ongoing upgrades to the energy conservation and efficiency of existing facilities.
Related post: Pivot Energy review.
Andy is a Founder, Chief Content Officer, regular contributor, and idea generator behind Solar Power Systems. He is well-versed in various aspects of solar energy, including photovoltaic systems, solar policy trends, and green technology innovations.
