LATROBE, PA— Saint Vincent College is pleased to announce a partnership with the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to install a Smartflower—a solar photovoltaic system—to power an electric vehicle charging station.
The charging station will drive innovation by implementing an electrification project using renewable energy sources, promote the mainstream use of solar photovoltaic systems and improve the economic and environmental health of communities in the West Penn Power service region by facilitating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
“West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund is a valued partner, providing guidance, technical expertise and significant grant funding to support the use of renewable energy sources, improvements in energy efficiency and a reduction in the College’s carbon footprint,” said Christine Foschia, Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Mission at Saint Vincent College.
The project will also provide a platform to educate students, faculty and staff, alumni and members of the regional community about responsible energy use and environmental stewardship. Saint Vincent is creating a more sustainable campus to meet the needs of Bearcats for generations to come.
“Saint Vincent College prioritizes emerging technologies as they become more efficient and effective,” explained Fr. Paul Taylor, O.S.B., Saint Vincent College President. “This unique and visible energy source, a flower that opens and closes, will engage our community and visitors to learn more about sustainable energy. We are grateful to our partners, particularly the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, for their generosity and insight.”
Grounded in the Benedictine hallmark of stewardship for the natural environment, Saint Vincent College is committed to continually addressing environmental issues. The sustainability of the College is built on a foundation of policies and practices that are economically, environmentally and socially just. The Smartflower project will be amongst several other initiatives to do so which includes watershed restoration, environmental education and land preservation.
The implementation of the Smartflower will support the increased public and private use of electric vehicles contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions, improving environmental conditions in the southwestern Pennsylvania region and promoting the adoption of regenerative energy sources.
Using solar energy to power electric vehicles helps to further minimize negative environmental impacts from the transportation sector as solar electric vehicle charging stations produce a 100% carbon neutral footprint.
In keeping with the Benedictine Hallmark of stewardship for the natural environment, Saint Vincent has a long-standing commitment to environmental issues. The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) has been a valued partner in these efforts, providing guidance, technical expertise, and significant grant funding to support the use of renewable energy sources, improvements in energy efficiency and a reduction in the College’s carbon footprint. The WPPSEF has collaborated with Saint Vincent on several prominent projects on campus, including the installation of solar panels on the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Building and the expansion and renovation of the Dale P. Latimer Library. The latter initiative included the installation of a 152.1 kW DC grid-tied solar photovoltaic array on the roof of the Latimer Library in 2019 and the integration of advanced energy efficient building technologies. Saint Vincent deeply values its partnership with the WPPSEF that has made a significant and sustained impact on the campus, our faculty and students and the broader regional community.
The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that invests in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies that benefit West Penn Power ratepayers in Pennsylvania. WPPSEF investments are focused in three broad categories:
Visit http://www.wppsef.org for further information. YouTube – Listen to what our project partners have to say about us.
IMAGE: Rendering of a Smartflower.
Image courtesy of Smartflower Solar.