Goucher college is implementing a series of necessary changes to become a model "green" campus

The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy awarded Goucher College $1,445,932 on October 1, 2025, under the Renewable Energy Research and Development program (CFDA 81.087) to implement solar photovoltaic systems on its campus in Baltimore, Maryland.

Goucher College will develop two independent solar projects as part of a comprehensive green campus initiative designed to reduce energy consumption, water usage, and waste production by 2030. The first solar array will be installed on the Facility Management Services Building, and the second on the Central Utility Plant. Prior to photovoltaic panel installation, the college will replace both roofs to provide structural foundation for the systems and support campus decarbonization goals. Upon completion, the photovoltaic panels and resulting solar array system will offset campus energy consumption and advance the college's objective of operating primarily on renewable energy.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, with an anticipated project duration of 24 months. Goucher College is a private non-profit liberal arts institution in Towson, Maryland, that operates exclusively as a federal grant recipient across research, education, and campus sustainability initiatives.

This comprehensive approach includes implementing systems designed to reduce energy consumption, water usage, and waste production by 2030. The first phase of this holistic endeavor is to develop two independent solar projects. One will be on the facility management services building (FMS) and the other will be on the central utility plan (cup). The anticipated duration of this project is expected to be 24 months. When completed, the new photovoltaic panels (PVPS) and resulting solar array system will help offset campus energy consumption. The projects will also help the college achieve its goal of working towards operating primarily on renewable energy. During initial review of the project, IT was revealed replacing the roofs prior to installing new PVPS would not only provide a sound structural foundation for the projects, but the new roofing systems will also aid DE-carbonization.