Georgetown Energy -- Rooftop Solar Petition

Georgetown Energy is a not-for-profit renewable energy action team dedicated to finding renewable solutions for the greater Washington D.C. community. Founded in 2009, we have already facilitated 5 residential solar projects in D.C., including the Georgetown community%u2019s first ever solar photovoltaic (PV) residential rooftop installation.  Recently, our team has been exploring the idea of implementing large-scale projects at Georgetown University, and we have developed a strategy for installing solar rooftop systems on university-owned townhouses.  Working with professionals in the solar industry, we've created a financially attractive model for realizing the goal of bringing renewable energy solutions to Georgetown's campus.

The Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) is currently exploring ideas on how best to use a $3.4 million endowment which has been built up over the past decade through the Student Activities Fee. GUSA intends to distribute the funds that favor projects which affect the entire student body and have a lasting impact on campus.  We believe that rooftop solar installations would have a positive effect on student's experience, and would be a sustainable addition to Georgetown's campus. This would also be an economical investment, as the savings from the installations will pay for the systems in 8-10 years. This proposal is also timely, as Washington D.C. offers some of the best solar energy incentives in the country, and offers twice as many as Germany, which has more installed megawatts than any other country in the world. 

A recommitment to solar energy on the Georgetown campus would foster greater awareness of our energy consumption. Students at Georgetown will enter the world with personal experience in reducing their own carbon footprint, and how solar can be financially viable. The solar panel installations would help Georgetown reach its stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% per square foot by the year 2020. We want to empower future students to build  on that knowledge, and we propose that the energy savings (approximately $500,000 over 20 years based on 100kW of total installation) be used to create a Sustainable Investment Initiative (SII), which would fund student-led proposals to further educate Georgetown and increase the school's use of renewable energy.

We see our proposal as achieving three key goals:

1. Lowering the school's electricity bills and carbon dioxide emissions

2. Educating students on the environmental and financial benefits of renewable energy

3. Through the SII, stimulating the innovation of giving back that lies at the heart of the Jesuit tradition

We are asking to include your name in general support of this idea. We will update you on our progress, and your name will only be included with this exploratory proposal. We pledge to carefully consider the long-term benefits of renewable energy alongside GUSA and the Georgetown University administration.

Sincerely,

Anthony Conyers, Co-Founder and CEO, Georgetown Energy

Peter Nulsen, Co-Founder and COO, Georgetown Energ