Kansas State University
Asumag 8740 Kstatewindenergy 0
Asumag 8740 Kstatewindenergy 0
Asumag 8740 Kstatewindenergy 0
Asumag 8740 Kstatewindenergy 0
Asumag 8740 Kstatewindenergy 0

Wind farm will provide about half of the energy needs for Kansas State University's Manhattan campus

Nov. 15, 2018
The Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center in Nemaha County, Kan., will provide the power, and is projected to be on line in 2020.

Kansas State University has signed an agreement to have about 50 percent of the energy needs for its Manhattan campus provided by a wind farm in Nemaha County.

The university says the arrangement with Westar Energy is expected to save Kansas State nearly $200,000 a year.

The agreement is part of Westar Energy's Renewables Direct program, which provides large customers access to renewable energy at set long-term prices.

The 300-megawatt Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center, a wind farm that will be built in Nemaha County, is projected to be on line in 2020. Kansas State University is one of 14 organizations in the state that will receive electricity from the wind farm.

"We are excited about this innovative approach to use renewable energy to help Kansas State University become more sustainable and save energy costs," says Cindy Bontrager, the university's vice president for administration and finance. "Sustainability planning is one of the key components of our K-State 2025 plan to become a top 50 public research university by 2025."

The university's savings will come from a reduction in the retail energy cost adjustment, also known as fuel factor costs. Under the Renewables Direct program, the price of electricity provided from the wind farm will be fixed for 20 years at 1.8 cents per kilowatt-hour and replaces the fuel factor cost, which is currently 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The university's average annual consumption for the Manhattan campus for the last five years has been 113 million kilowatt-hours per year. The university also will receive renewable energy credits associated with the agreement.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...