Princeton and Northeastern Universities Boost Solar Energy Use to Cut Costs and Promote Sustainability Initiatives.

Two universities, Princeton University and Northeastern University, are increasing their use of solar energy on their campuses, with the aim of reducing budget pressure, meeting clean energy goals, and providing real-world learning opportunities for future leaders. Princeton University plans to install a 2.2 MW portfolio of four solar projects on rooftop and canopy-mounted structures, with New York-based Brightcore Energy set to install 4,039 solar modules in summer 2024. The school’s Sustainability Action Plan commits to achieving net zero carbon neutrality by 2046 and includes a policy of avoiding purchase of offsets. The recent installation of a 158 kWp rooftop solar system on Northeastern’s library is expected to offset 146 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.