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The Evergreen State College and Olympia Community Solar (OCS) invite the public to join them for a special ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Evergreen Solar Project! This significant event will take place at the Covered Recreation Pavilion—affectionately known as the “Thunderdome”—on Tuesday, October 29th, from 4 PM to 5 PM 2024. 

After the ceremony, attendees can enjoy light refreshments at a brief reception in the Climate Center (SEM 2 E-2105) followed by a workshop,  “Catching Sun: Solar Energy on the Evergreen Campus.” . This event promises to be a valuable opportunity for community members to learn more about the solar energy initiatives at Evergreen.

A Student Vision Realized 

For years, students at Evergreen have envisioned a solar-powered campus, spearheading various projects that led to solar installations on the Daniel J. Evans Library and Evergreen Tacoma. They have been dreaming, quite literally, of a “Solarpunk Evergreen.”

In 2016 a pair of undergraduates took up a faculty question to assess and design a solar array installation. However with higher costs and the recent purchase of the Sankofa building, they saw an opportunity to pivot and bring the first CEC funded project, largest Evergreen solar project at the time, to the Tacoma campus, through an Evergreen Individual Learning Contract. These students, Matthew Strickland and Matt Booth, would go on to graduate the following year, but not before archiving their original ideas so a future generation of Greeners might take them on. Seven years later, in 2023, a group of dedicated students unearthed the original plans with staff in the Climate Center, and they worked together in this effort to successfully fund the largest solar project in the College’s history.

A pair of dedicated MES Graduate students, Emma Wright (CCAS Sustainability Fellow) and Keira Jensen (CCAS Community Intern with OCS), collaborated with the Office of Sustainability, CCAS, and OCS to propose a student-grant from the Clean Energy Committee.

Their collective efforts culminated in an approved grant proposal in May, which awarded approximately $264,000 to fund this landmark project. This student led initiative demonstrates the profound impact of student involvement in shaping a sustainable future for the college. Emma was able to shadow with Facilities to co-guide and follow the process first-hand.

A Bright Future 

The project, managed by Marshall Urist, features a 94-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array that is expected to save the college around $13,000 annually in energy costs. Over the estimated 25-year lifespan of the project, the college could benefit from at least $440,000 in energy savings. Additionally, the solar array is projected to reduce the college’s carbon footprint by approximately 88,000 pounds of CO2 emissions each year—equivalent to planting 723 trees or avoiding 111,000 miles of driving. 

“This project exemplifies the collaborative spirit of our community and our commitment to sustainability,” said a spokesperson from the Clean Energy Committee. “We are proud to support initiatives that not only reduce our carbon footprint but also provide financial benefits that can be reinvested in student resources and services.” 

Join Us in Celebration 

We invite everyone to come celebrate this milestone in renewable energy and student perseverance at Evergreen. The ribbon cutting marks not just the launch of a new energy source for the college, but another step in a continuing legacy of student-led sustainability efforts. 

You can explore the solar energy production in real time by visiting the Solar Monitoring System for the Thunderdome’s solar array. 

For more information about the Evergreen Solar Project or to RSVP for the event, please visit www.evergreen.edu/climate for all events!

What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Evergreen Thunderdome Solar Project 
When: Tuesday, October 29th, 4 PM – 5 PM (followed by an open workshop at 5:30)
Where: The Evergreen State College Covered Recreation Pavilion