As SET’s involvement in the Solar College Initiative heats up, it’s important for all of us to celebrate the victories for campus solar already taking place. And today is a big day – as Arizona State University dedicated its new solar projects which add up to be the nation’s third largest on campus. At a capacity of 1.88 MW, Arizona St U is definitely helping to drive the sustainable energy transition.
The campus became the only non-California campus in the country’s top 10, showing that the high insolation of the Southwest really does matter. But don’t worry East Coasters, Rutgers University in New Jersey will soon unveil a similar-sized system to help us keep our egos intact 
More to Come
Arizona State University is not ready to stop at 1.88 MW. They have a plan to build another 5 MW on campus, which could give the campus top honors in solar deployment unless other schools act quickly to stake their claim.
Recent layoffs announced at some solar companies show how crucial higher education’s leadership to deploy solar in 2009-10 is. Without visionary moral leaders who see the importance of renewable energy industry’s health for the long-term (while externalities such as carbon dioxide emissions are vented without regulation today), the quick recent pace of solar industry innovation is at risk in our current recession.
Bottom line: Well done, Arizona State University! Your leadership is appreciated. Now it’s up to the rest of us to make this inspiring project drive a wave of solar, wind and efficiency deployment on hundreds more campuses nationwide.
Tags: Arizona State University, Solar, sustainable energy transition