SALISBURY, Md. — Salisbury University has been awarded a $900,000 Higher Education Clean Energy Grant from the Maryland Energy Administration to expand clean energy generation on campus. The funding will support a solar roof installation as part of the net-zero renovation of Blackwell Hall.
“SU has a goal to be a net-zero campus by 2045, and to do that we must prioritize cutting back on carbon emissions and using energy from renewable sources,” said Christopher Homeister, director of campus sustainability. “This grant helps offset resources we need to make Blackwell Hall one of the first net-zero buildings in the University System of Maryland, operating with a zero net carbon footprint and representing a significant leap forward in SU’s commitment to sustainability.”
The grant will also fund the creation of a campus clean energy master plan and provide opportunities for student interns to collaborate on sustainability initiatives. It continues a focus on the environment by the university. Last month, a new coastal engineering major was created.
According to statement announcing the grant, Salisbury University is among 11 higher education institutions receiving a share of $10.17 million from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. University officials say it is a program reinvests proceeds from greenhouse gas-emissions auctions and alternative compliance payments to reduce energy costs, minimize waste, create jobs, and promote energy independence across the state.