Scaling New Heights

Pacific Builds a Sustainable Future

A new sustainability initiative will rank Pacific the No. 1 private university in the nation for solar power produced on campus, according to Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System reports.

Working with Tesla, the solar canopies project will provide more than 30% of the overall energy needs of the Stockton Campus. The solar canopies will cover spaces in eight parking lots spread across the 175-acre Northern California property on both sides of the Calaveras River. Harnessing power from the sun, the solar panels will generate 5.3 megawatts of electricity and have 1 megawatt of battery storage.

"We are proud to take this national leadership role in campus-based sustainability and renewable energy efforts," said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. "The solar project is just the latest example of Pacific's tradition of leadership through innovation and our focus on reducing our carbon footprint."

The project also includes the installation of 16 electric-vehicle charging ports throughout campus with the ability to expand that number in the future if demand increases.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be working with Tesla, as they are one of the industry leaders in electric vehicles, clean energy generation and storage products,” said Graeme Mitchell,

former assistant vice president of facilities at Pacific, who initiated the relationship. “This will establish Pacific as an industry leader in sustainability among all higher education institutions.”

The solar canopies will bring additional benefits. A renewable energy system this size is estimated to generate the electricity equivalent of removing over 1,000 cars from the road every year, provide the equivalent energy use for over 650 homes annually and avert over 5,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.

“This project demonstrates Pacific's ongoing commitment to energy conservation and environmentally sound practices for current and future generations,” said Jessica Bilecki, sustainability director at Pacific. “We put into practice our value of civic responsibility by developing renewable energy resources for our community.”

In addition to the electricity generated by the solar panels, this project will provide experiential learning opportunities for Pacific student researchers and faculty, who will have access to solar data for assessment.

“This project will enable our faculty and students to gain a practical understanding of renewable energy as well as create hands-on learning opportunities—one of the important and distinctive features of a Pacific education,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Pallavicini.

Construction of the solar canopies should be completed in early 2022.

EVERY DROP COUNTS IN CONSERVATION

As California faces a severe drought, Pacific has taken steps to be one of America's leading universities in water conservation.

Pacific has incorporated efficient water designs with irrigation and updates to facilities across its Stockton Campus—and has been doing so since 2006. Among schools in the West Coast Conference, Pacific is the only institution to have 100% nonpotable water (not of drinking quality) for irrigation and has the lowest consumption of potable water per campus user, according to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.

TED ʼ02 AND CHRIS ʼ06 ROBB GARDEN A LIVING LABORATORY

Established in 2012 by former Regent and Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb, the Ted ʼ02 and Chris ʼ06 Robb Garden grows organic produce that is made available to students, faculty, staff and local community members. It is also a living laboratory where students have the opportunity to study ecosystems, food systems, soil composition, nutrition, seasonality, crop rotations, food disposal, marketing and garden design.

“Seeing students learn about a variety of sustainability efforts is really rewarding,” said Jessica Bilecki, sustainability director at Pacific. “I am proud of the many ways Pacific is committed to creating a culture that advances a sustainable future for our community.”