New Jersey Institute of Technology will purchase renewable energy from a portfolio of hydropower facilities equal to nearly 100% of its forecasted electricity consumption, according to a Wednesday announcement.
Through a partnership with a subsidiary of ENGIE North America, the Newark-based university will achieve one of the strongest commitments for renewable power procurement in a retail energy purchase.
“NJIT’s commitment to sustainability is a main pillar of our strategic plan,” said Andrew Christ, senior vice president, real estate development and capital operations. “Through the procurement of energy from sustainable resources, the university will reduce its carbon footprint as part of its orientation to integrate sustainability into our community’s daily life.”
The renewable energy deal is part of a larger sustainability campaign at NJIT that reduces energy and mitigates waste through efforts such as a future expansion of on-campus renewable energy generation via the installation of a 500 kilowatt solar panel field on the Wellness and Events Center and a universitywide food composting program.
For 2022, NJIT will purchase approximately 43,800 megawatt-hours of supply of renewable, clean generation from the Smoky Mountain Hydropower portfolio located along the North Carolina-Tennessee border.
The renewable energy in this agreement avoids more than 31,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions over the span of the contract, which represents the equivalent carbon capture of over 38,000 acres of forest, according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
“Hydropower is clean and affordable. It’s the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation, and the only energy source that creates recreational opportunities,” Sayun Sukduang, CEO at ENGIE Resources, said. “NJIT is a perfect partner to help promote sustainability through the next generation of leaders.”
