You’ve probably seen it while driving towards TR (maybe on trips to eat at Farmhouse Tacos or Hare & Field…). What seems like a random field full of solar panels along the side of the road can actually be explained by one sign, which reads, “Furman University Solar Farm: Powering the campus with renewable energy from the sun.”

The basic details: It took 8 months + $1.7 million to install, and it went online on April 30, 2017. It’s also the largest solar installation on a college campus in the state, spanning six acres.

We turned to the experts for the answers to more complicated questions about the solar farm, like how the energy is used… and how hard it is to mow under all those panels. Here’s our Q+A with Laura Bain, Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment at Furman’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability.

What parts of campus use the solar energy?

It is impossible to say exactly where the energy is used. But, since the solar farm is tied directly into Furman’s power grid, we can say that those electrons are likely being consumed somewhere on campus (vague, right?). A few other solar installations on campus are tied into particular buildings. For example, the Shi Center for Sustainability is predominantly powered by 3 solar projects: one on the roof, one in the garden, and one in the parking lot.

How much maintenance does the solar farm require?

The most frequent maintenance is mowing the grass. The low end of the panels are about 2 feet from the ground, requiring very time-consuming and expensive weed-eating by hand. Gas-powered mowers produce greenhouse gasses and increase our carbon footprint, which is counter to the intent of solar farm and the goals of the university. To help alleviate this burden, we are leasing sheep from a local farmer to reduce our reliance on gas-powered mowers at the solar farm. Not only are they cute and effective “mowers,” but they also provide an opportunity to use sheep-related puns in daily conversation – we like to call their work “lambscaping.”

How much have energy costs been reduced through using solar power?

The solar farm reduces our electricity costs by about 5-6% on average. Shocking, I know, but we are a University housing, feeding, and educating about 2700 students, and that takes a lot of power.

How much has the solar farm helped Furman towards its 2026 carbon-neutral goal? How will it be part of that goal in the future?

Electricity use is the largest piece of our carbon-footprint, comprising about half of our total impact. So, if you think of a footprint, electricity use would take up the entire heel and arch of a flat-footed person: ouch. So, finding ways to reduce electricity use through efficiency and behavior change is critical, and certainly underway here at Furman. But, carbon-neutrality will only be achievable AND sustainable if we are able to access affordable sources of clean power. And, no, I don’t mean “clean” coal. S.C. is in a “regulated energy market,” which limits our options.

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Are there plans to expand the solar farm?

S.C. law limits our solar power production to 1 megawatt (1000 kilowatts). The solar farm is our largest solar project on campus at 743 kw, and brings our total close to that limit. However, we are exploring opportunities for additional small rooftop solar installations – stay tuned.

Does Furman get any kind of tax break or benefit from using solar?

Because Furman is categorized as a non-profit educational institution, we were not eligible for tax breaks. However, Furman was able to take advantage of a rebate program offered by Duke Energy.

Was the land donated or was it purchased/already owned by Furman? Why is this spot a good choice for a solar farm?

The land was already owned by Furman. The site was chosen partially because there is an existing easement through the middle of it, making traditional development more challenging and less practical. The site is also visible from Poinsett Highway, which helps educate the public about solar power and, if you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of the sheep.

Did the idea originate from the Shi Center for Sustainability? Can you give us a little background on the Center and its mission?

Furman has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and decided to construct the solar farm because South Carolina increased on-site solar production limits to 1-mW when it passed the Distributed Energy Resource Program, Act 236, in 2014. Additionally, a rebate program offered $1/watt of generation capacity, which helped defray the cost of installation.

The Shi Center for Sustainability has an interesting history. It was first constructed in 2007 as a Southern Living (yes, the magazine) showcase home as a way to prove that an energy efficient home could fit in stylistically with the typical southern-style home. In 2008, it was converted into the Shi Center for Sustainability, named after Furman’s 10th president, Dr. David Shi (pronounced “shy”). Dr. Shi can be credited with much of Furman’s commitment to sustainability and his continued support of the University’s goal is a testament to his passion. #personalhero

The idea to put sheep on the solar farm came straight from the shepherd, who is a local farmer who swims at the campus gym in the winter. He thought it was a crazy idea and we’d never go for it – perhaps we are crazy after all. The Shi Center and our top-notch, open-minded facilities department worked together to make that project possible.

Could/should a solar farm be replicated at other schools/businesses?

Of course! The decision to install solar can be complicated and often depends on current state laws and programs run by your local utility provider. Duke Energy plans to launch a shared solar program that may allow residential customers to join in the sun-fun without having to install panels on their property. As for combining agriculture with solar, it can be a win/win. Often, the knee-jerk solution is to kill the vegetation under solar panels with herbicides, but that has obvious negative environmental impacts (but does provide some dark irony for a renewable energy facility). Maintaining land-use value with solar panels is logical and can even be beneficial to the local environment. We are still learning how to navigate the nuances of grazing, grass mixes, rotation schedules, etc, but the possibilities are exciting. Some solar facilities are even incorporating pollinator gardens, bee hives, and mushroom cultivation.

Would you use solar power at home?

First, you need to know S.C.’s laws on solar energy. You can submit a residential solar permit to Greenville County – 760 permits were issued in 2017 alone. And by the end of that year, 55,000 homes were using solar. ☀ Here are a few good questions to ask before you shell out for solar panels.

– Kendall

P.S. This article from The State about a solar bill that controversially failed in the S.C. House last April is an interesting read.