The newest member of Alfred State’s growing renewable energy family is currently catching the breeze above campus—a 100 kilowatt grid-tied wind turbine that will offset some of the college’s electricity usage. This project will allow Alfred State to continue training the highly skilled workers the industry requires and help meet national, state, and regional needs. In fact, one of the project’s main goals is to establish a small wind laboratory for students within already existing programs, offering them even more hands-on experience with green technologies.
In a world with rising energy costs, climate change, and dwindling resources, Alfred State is taking a proactive approach to the future of energy. “This wind turbine is an important step towards achieving Alfred State’s emissions reduction goals,” says Julian Dautremont-Smith, chief sustainability officer at Alfred State. The project will complement the college’s growing emphasis on sustainability and strengthen the region’s access to training and employment in green industries.