ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Cornell could reach its goal of carbon neutrality much earlier than the target date of 2035.
School officials say an agreement with energy developer Distributed Sun has the potential to push Cornell over the threshold of powering the Ithaca campus with 100% renewable energy. Cornell already has worked with Distributed Sun in the past, with solar projects on different rooftops and properties.
“This project represents the culmination of more than a decade of hard work and partnership between Cornell and Distributed Sun,” said Sarah Carson, director of Cornell’s sustainability office and the project manager behind Cornell’s solar initiatives. “We’ve worked together to overcome countless technical and policy barriers leading to significant, statewide changes that have paved the way for others. The agreement for this project is similarly innovative, helping us navigate the unique economic and policy challenges facing the voluntary market in New York State’s large-scale renewable energy market.”
A planned 110-megawatt project facility in Batavia, slated for operation in 2027, along with existing Distributed Sun projects, could account for more than 90% of the Ithaca campus’ energy needs alone.
