Energy

The Walla Walla Valley provides a plethora of sustainable energy options, as the college is located between major hydropower stations, receives approximately 260 days of sunlight each year, and owns a prominent wind farm.  Pacific Power, Whitman’s energy provider, is one of the West’s leading utilities and operates a broad portfolio. Wind, hydro, geothermal, and other non-carbon resources compose more than 20% of its capacity and it is developing solar power into its mix. 

In 2006, the college made a substantial increase in its purchase of Pacific Power’s Blue Sky wind energy–from $3,000 to $20,000 per year.  According to an article  reporting on the purchase, the clean energy purchased by the college each month during the period of a year provides environmental benefits equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2,647 tons, which has the same benefit as not driving a car more than 5.7 million miles. Whitman’s annual purchase of renewable energy equates to the annual electricity usage of about 165 Pacific Power-served homes in Washington.  More information can be found here.

Wind Turbines

As of the beginning of 2013, the college owns nearby farmland which contains seventy 660 kW turbines on Whitman property.  The 166 foot tall towers generate electricity when wind speeds are between 7 and 56 miles per hour and are most efficient at 33 mph.  The Vestas turbines are 30-35% efficient and contain highly customizable response to maximize efficiency with changing wind patters.  The fleet of turbines is found on leased property which continues with normal agricultural practices under the towers. While Whitman leases the land and receives royalties for the electricity generated, the electricity is owned by Florida Power and Light Company and is sold to the Bonneville Power Administration. More information can be found here.

Solar Panels

A 21kW photovoltaic solar array sits atop the Bratton Tennis Center. The panels were installed in 2009 thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated students, who worked in partnership with Whitman staff to raise the necessary funds, including a $51,750 grant from Pacific Power. The solar panels give the college an educational tool along with future energy savings.   They are expected to produce 25,000 kWh annually, enough to sustain over 2.5 average American homes each year. Project manager Jeff Donahue said, “We are projecting a 20 percent reduction in power needed from the power company as a result of the solar panels, and the $3,150 production incentive we receive from the state will offset 54 percent of the building’s power costs annually.”

As of December 2012, 129,731 lbs of carbon dioxide emissions have been avoided, equivalent to the annual emissions produced by 12.3 cars.  The college has been reimbursed $5,043 for the energy it has produced and put back into the grid.  Explore the real-time savings and monitor the solar panel output here.

More information can be found in an article here.