Tulane University is constructing a solar generation facility at its New Orleans campus

Tulane University is building a 1-megawatt solar generation facility on its New Orleans uptown campus. 

The facility is expected to produce about 10% of the university's electricity needs, according to a university news release. 

The university is hoping the facility will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions so it can reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Through construction of the solar panel, the university is aiming to have one or more of its buildings reach net zero energy status by 2025. 

Tulane says being situated in one of the world’s most active hurricane zones gives it a unique perspective on the necessity of a reliable power supply.

“Lack of consistent power during a weather event or local infrastructure failure can be detrimental to operations, academic instruction and the student experience and may cause catastrophic loss of research materials and specimens,” said Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Tulane. 

Bernhard is the engineering and contracting firm for the project.