Solar Farm and Central Geothermal Plant

The solar farm, situated in Antioch’s South Campus, produces enough power to offset the electrical consumption of our central geothermal plant. The five-acre, one million watt solar Photo Voltaic (PV) solar farm includes a field of 3,300 solar panels adjacent to the Antioch Farm. 30% of our current campus power consumed comes from this 1 megawatt behind-the meter field installed solar farm. The solar farm will produce 1.2 million kilowatt hours of energy annually, enough power to offset the electrical consumption of our Central Geothermal Plant. The solar farm is augmented by 80% renewable energy purchases through the College's local utility in the Village of Yellow Springs

The Central Geothermal Plant, combined with Antioch College’s solar array and the Village of Yellow Springs’ new energy portfolio (hydroelectric and wind contracts), will power most of Antioch’s campus, positioning Antioch College as among the first higher education institution in America to be fueled almost exclusively by alternative energy by 2018 (90% of the campus' electric consumption is projected to be sourced from renewable energy by that time).

Although considerably more expensive to construct than traditional alternatives, these improvements will reduce campus energy costs immensely when the campus is fully developed. Each of these renewable assets serve as model for sustainability in higher education and have been used extensively in classroom instruction, Global Seminar presentations, co-op programs and educational tours for students, community groups and sustainable energy organizations.