SOU Adds Solar+Storage in Push Toward 100% Daytime Power

Southern Oregon University (SOU) has installed two new solar arrays and its first battery energy storage system (BESS), moving it closer to its goal of generating 100% of its daytime electricity needs on campus. 

The installations were completed at Lithia Motors Pavilion and The Hawk Dining Commons, adding 402 kW of total capacity.

The university now has 10 solar arrays installed on its campus, totaling 804.21 kW of capacity, as well as one array on the Higher Education Center in Medford and six pole-mounted STrackers located on land leased to a nonprofit. Three of the on-campus arrays support net-zero buildings—a testament to SOU’s commitment to decarbonization and energy resilience. 

True South Solar installed the projects as part of SOU’s first round of funding from the Oregon Department of Energy Community Renewable Energy Program. SOU’s Student Green Fund and a state sustainability allocation provided additional support. 

SOU has been awarded $5.8 million in state and federal funding over the last few years: three $1 million grants from Oregon’s Community Renewable Energy Program, a $2 million congressional appropriation, and $800,000 through an allocation from the Oregon Legislature for Sustainability Funding at Oregon’s Technical and Regional Universities.

“It was great to work with local solar installer True South Solar on such significant project for SOU – the largest solar array in City of Ashland (on Lithia Motors Pavilion) as well as SOU’s first battery energy storage system,” said Becs Walker, SOU’s Director of Sustainability, in a statement. “True South competitively bid for the contract and have installed a number of arrays on campus.” 

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