(By Chris Timasonravichkit ’28, staff writer)
LVC is in the planning stages of developing a 10-acre solar installation off Kreiderheim Lane.
“LVC’s solar project will provide savings and stability in our energy expenses over the long term while at the same time reduce our carbon footprint and affirm our commitment to sustainability,” Dr. James MacLaren, LVC President, said.
The planned installation will be located in North Annville Township on a portion of the 87-acre plot of farmland owned by the college and leased to two local farmers. The project is led by Mike Mumper, executive director of facilities management, and is expected to yield a significant financial return on investment.
“Our utility budget is presently $1.625 million; of that, about half goes to electricity,” Mumper said. “One of the primary benefits is price certainty because we’re able to know how much our electricity is going to cost for the next 25 to 30 years.”
The college currently receives its electricity from Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation, and purchases its electricity from NextEra Energy Services. Amidst a volatile energy market, the planned installation is projected to significantly reduce energy costs by providing around 58% of the campus’s energy needs.
“Instead of purchasing power from NextEra we are purchasing power from the developer who has installed this installation, and the cost to them [the developer] versus the cost to Met-Ed is less, so it’s a positive cash flow deal,” Mumper said. “We are not diverting funds away from something else to be able to do this; these are monies that we already spend on utilities.”
The solar installation is part of a wider effort toward carbon neutrality that began in 2012 when Dr. Lewis Thayne, former LVC President signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). To meet the commitment’s goal, the college has been purchasing renewable energy credits to offset its carbon footprint. However, around a third of LVC’s energy still comes from natural gas sources.
The new on-site solar installation will allow the college to work toward transitioning its remaining energy needs from natural gas to solar in the future years – a move which student-led environmental groups have welcomed with excitement.
“I think it is amazing that LVC is taking the initiative to directly provide the campus with renewable energy,” Hannah Horengic, LVC Environmental Club president, said. “It shows that LVC cares about the environment and making campus sustainable.”
The planned project still awaits review from Met-Ed and regulatory approval from North Annville Township officials and the governing board of LVC. Since December of 2024, LVC has been working with township officials to write an ordinance specific to the construction of an on-site solar installation.
“On the regulatory side, we need to have a land development plan, soil erosion plan and stormwater management plan,” Mumper said. “Those things take 6-10 months to get approved, so it’s optimistic that we’re in construction by June of next year [2026].”
In the meantime, Mumper advises students to minimize their footprint by recycling and keeping their windows shut during the winter.