Black Hills State University

Solar Arrays | Spearfish, SD

Beginning in 2017, Black Hills State University pushed the envelope of innovation when they created their 2030 Sustainability Master Plan. This forward-thinking strategy set goals for improving the school’s sustainability on multiple fronts – from reducing emissions to integrating sustainability into the academic curriculum.

A core concept in the plan is working toward carbon neutrality by aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2030. According to a study conducted by the University in 2015, 69 percent of the campus’s overall emissions came from energy usage. To combat this, BHSU embraced a series of projects to install solar arrays across campus.

In 2019, a 74 kW rooftop solar array was added to Thomas Hall, one of the residence buildings on campus. This 200-panel photovoltaic array produces enough energy to fulfill approximately 20 percent of Thomas Hall’s energy consumption.

Two additional solar projects since have affected 4 buildings and an outdoor carport. This involved the Life Sciences Building (82kW), Berry Library (136kW), Facilities Building (36kW), and Donald E. Young Center (540 kW).