PROVIDENCE, R.I.— Brown University is playing a key role in Rhode Island's largest solar project, underscoring the campus' dedication to achieving net-zero energy consumption by 2040.

The Dry Bridge solar project, a massive 117,120-panel array, sits on a 240-acre site previously used for sand and gravel extraction. Once operational, Dry Bridge will generate 66.8 million kilowatt-hours of power annually, supplying nearly two-thirds of Brown’s 231 campus buildings while cutting 16,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This reduction is equivalent to taking 3,500 gas-powered cars off the road, according to a University statement.

“Dry Bridge is a transformative milestone for clean energy in the region and signals a significant step toward Brown’s net-zero goals,” said Christina Paxson, Ph.D., president of Brown University. “The project underscores the need to ensure the University does all it can…to contribute to global efforts to seek climate solutions and combat the threats posed by climate change.”

Achieving net-zero goals has long been a priority for Brown. The University committed in 2018 to offsetting 100% of its on-campus electricity consumption. Solar panel installation began in 2021 after securing permits from North Kingstown and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Remediation work followed, including the removal of existing structures, land surveying, and planting restorative vegetation to attract pollinators. The project was designed with minimal land-use impact, with no major tree clearing or neighborhood encroachment.

Brown has entered a 25-year power-purchase agreement with MN8, a New York-based energy company that owns Dry Bridge, to operate the facility. As part of the deal, Brown will purchase and retire renewable energy credits from the solar project, establishing the University’s right to claim the renewable energy as its own. The agreement also allows Brown to reduce its electricity costs by utilizing credits via net metering, in line with Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Program laws.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of the Dry Bridge solar facility, a project that underscores our commitment to renewable energy and exemplifies the collaborative spirit needed to drive meaningful change,” said Jon Yoder, MN8 president and CEO. “This project is a testament to our vision of a decarbonized world and reinforces our dedication to delivering innovative energy solutions that empower communities and protect our planet.”

The solar array’s construction also involved building a new power substation and installing underground and overhead power lines to transmit the energy. Frank Epps, CEO of Energy Development Partners, the Providence-based company behind Dry Bridge, noted that the power lines are the highest distribution voltage in Rhode Island. EDP worked with Narragansett Electric to install the lines, secure necessary state permits, and complete infrastructure improvements.

The project faced significant hurdles, including a change of ownership, delays, and lengthy negotiations for interconnection service agreements. It took two years of collaborative efforts between project partners, regulatory agencies, and utilities to navigate state and regional regulations before construction could begin.

“During two years of negotiations, all of the project partners, regulatory agencies, and the utility worked together, and the project ultimately received the necessary authorizations to interconnect,” said Al Dahlberg, associate vice president for government relations at Brown University. “It was an undertaking that took a tremendous amount of effort, patience, and collaboration to accomplish.”

In addition to the solar project, Brown continues to pursue other sustainability initiatives, such as using sustainable building and cleaning materials, reducing meat consumption in dining services, and incorporating eco-friendly equipment in transportation. The University is also exploring ways to eliminate fossil fuels and further invest in geothermal energy.

“The goal is no more fossil-fuel combustion,” said Stephen Porder, associate provost for sustainability at Brown. “We’re really learning how to get there as a society, and what Brown is doing is throwing ourselves into this challenge and leading and learning how to actually do this through our actions, in what we teach and in how we learn.”