SSU makes progress towards its decarbonization goals as pilot project for MA state school geothermal plan
By Carol Hautau
Despite Federal cutbacks, clean renewable energy projects are doing well in Salem. Recently Salem State University announced a large geothermal and solar project on its North Campus. Construction has begun and is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2027.
Like many businesses and institutions, Salem State University has set a carbon-neutral goal for itself in the year 2050. In the next 25 years, the university proposes to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels with geothermal heating and cooling. Solar panels will be installed and green landscaping will absorb the remaining emissions.
This exciting decarbonization project, financed by the state as a pilot for other MA State University campuses, involves the drilling of about 100 deep wells under the faculty parking lot on North Campus. It would also include a renovated central utility plant and underground thermal exchange conduits. Once repaved, the parking lot will sport a canopy topped with solar panels to add more renewable energy sources to the project.
The underground connections will provide heating and cooling to three buildings: the expansion of Meier Hall, a refurbished Horace Mann Building, and the Berry Library. Future plans would connect all North Campus buildings to this ground source heating and cooling system. Follow the SSU Bold project on the campus webpage.
Geothermal is everywhere in Salem! In April the Plummer Youth Promise Campus hosted an open house to show off their new and renovated buildings, also heated and cooled with clean geothermal energy. In a few years, the Salem High School project will include a sustainable geothermal system and the St Peter’s Church/Iglesia San Pedro project is studying the possibility of a geothermal system. As you can see, Salem continues to fight the climate crisis by working towards a carbon-neutral future.
Carol Hautau is SAFE’s Volunteer Coordinator.