WNMU is requesting $15,000,000 from the NM Legislature to help the university achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
At present, the greatest source of renewable energy at WNMU is PNM’s Community Solar Direct program, which draws electricity from a solar farm in northern New Mexico.
The university also draws power from photovoltaic solar panels located near the Fine Arts Center Theatre and the WNMU Museum, and the university plans to install additional solar carports as well as freestanding photovoltaic panels. According to the WNMU Campus Master Plan, the “best source of energy is produced right at the point of use. Therefore, onsite renewable energy generation systems are paramount for reducing carbon emissions in the most efficient method possible.”
In addition to increasing the production of solar energy, carbon neutrality will also require that WNMU improve existing power and water systems to make them more efficient. The university has already taken steps in this direction by working with the energy service company Yearout Energy to conduct an investment grade audit of the university’s power and water systems. The report from this audit includes a cost/benefit analysis of a number of potential energy and water savings opportunities, some of which the university has already implemented and others that will be future projects.
Along with installing more solar panels and improving energy efficiency, WNMU also plans to increase the number of EV charging stations on campus as a way to encourage EV use and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Most recently, WNMU installed four EV charging stations, each with the ability to charge two vehicles at once. The project was partly funded by Freeport-McMoRan.
Vice President of Facilities and Operations Kevin Matthes noted that the demand for EV charging will almost certainly increase in the coming years. “With the current federal goal for 50% of all vehicle sales by 2030 to be electric,” he said, “WNMU understands that additional electrical infrastructure will be needed to facilitate that goal and is working to be a leader in the state and region in working toward our shared goal of carbon neutrality.” The installation of additional charging stations will “continue our long tradition of good stewardship to our environment,” said Matthes.
According to Matthes, part of what is needed to achieve carbon neutrality is a thorough study of the university’s long-term electrical and other utility needs. The university will then be able to modernize its infrastructure, he said, to make sure it has the capacity to support expanded EV charging and additional photovoltaic panels that will be central to achieving carbon neutrality. These improvements will in turn demand site-specific improvements, such as paving and landscaping.
While the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 is ambitious, the requested outlay from the NM Legislature would put that goal within sight.