In order to gain a broader understanding of solar power, we researched multiple areas including:

arguments for and against the use of solar energy; the current and future status of solar power on
college campuses, in the Dubuque community and in the greater world; the logistics of
implementing solar power on a college campus; and the views of the Catholic Church on solar
energy. The following is a brief summary of the research we accumulated:
Other College Campus Initiatives
"Central Chosen as one of the Top Green Colleges in the Nation."
o In 2013, Central College, in Pella, Iowa, was named among the top sustainable
colleges in the United States by the Princeton Review
this recognition is awarded to colleges and universities in the United
States that establish prominent sustainability and environmental initiatives
a global sustainability course is part of Centrals foundational curriculum
Central has a global sustainability minor
o Central also possesses Iowas first LEED silver rated building, and they recently
built a gold rated residence hall
several of Centrals buildings have green roofs, rooftop solar panels,
natural ventilating, daylight harvesting systems, and green heating and
cooling systems ("Central Chosen as one of the Top Green Colleges in the
Nation")
Sustainability: Baker Village, 280 kW
o Luther College, in Decorah, Iowas definite emphasis on sustainability via
renewable energy from the sun
In 2012, Luther constructed 1,250 solar panels, each generating 255 watts,
a total of 280 kW
the cost of the project was about $1.2 million
electricity from these solar panels runs through a transmission line
under the ground to send energy to student housing
Baker Village
an area of completely electric student housing
electricity powers all heating, cooling, and electrical appliances in
the village
in an excess of energy, the panels power homes near Luther
o in return, Luther receives financial credit that helps to
power the village when it snows or when it is cloudy or
dark
Luther expects to pay less for the electricity from the panels than it would
be to purchase it from an outside source (Jensen)

"Ohio College, Utility Seeing Success with Solar Partnership"

o Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio, is another Midwest college that utilizes solar
energy as a means of achieving a more sustainable campus
o Oberlin partnered with the city to construct a 2.27-megawatt array of solar panels
on the campus in 2012

by the end of its first year, the solar panels had supplied about 12% of the
colleges electricity, produced much more power than expected, and saved
the utility company $100,000
panels track the sun across the sky to ensure maximum energy production
throughout the day, and the excess energy translates into credits that the
college can sell (Uhlenhuth)

Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies

"Universities Fail on Climate Change"
o explores the role universities have in combating climate change through
"divesting" funds from fossil fuel companies
o many institutions have large investments in fossil fuel companies, even while
climate change becomes more severe and less argued against
Presidents of Brown and Harvard University both failed to remove their
respective school's investments from fossil fuel companies, which sets a
bad example for students and other institutions that aspire to be like these
leading universities
o Universities used to be able to play a bigger role in promoting their own political
beliefs, and Powell calls on them to exercise their powers today on behalf of the
environment (Powell)
"Unloading on Fossil Fuels"
o expresses the necessity of oil companies' lobbying powers to decrease and how
that can be done by divestment
o points out a sense of hypocrisy some universities feel in divesting because their
claim to feel wrong using dirty energy to sustain their campus while undermining
the companies they rely on
o the interconnection between fossil fuel companies and universities will decrease
eventually resulting in sustainable options (Sorensen)
Implementation of Solar Power
"Hundreds Of Thousands Turn Out For People's Climate March In New York City."
o The very first People's Climate March occurred on September 21, 2014.
it consisted of 400,000 people of varying demographics
the march began around 11:30 a.m., at New York City's Columbus Circle
just off Central Park
the march stretched more than 4 miles
marchers carried banners, signs and entire contraptions depicting
everything from Mother Earth herself to the dinosaurs that now make up
fossil fuels
it is important to engage young people and bring attention to the timely
issue of climate change (Visser)
Solar Planet
o solar panels are warranted to last 25 years assuming sunlight is hitting the panels
24 hours a day
it is assumed they will last three times longer than what they're rated
because they generally only get 8hours of sunlight a day

o solar panels generate electricity whenever any form of sunlight is hitting themthey just aren't as efficient overcast days
Catholic Church's Stance on Solar Power
Catholic Social Teaching-Care For Gods Creation
o explains the responsibility of Catholics to care for the earth, and make it a safe
and healthy place for all of Gods creation to live
o maintains that the stewardship toward Gods creation is a requirement of our
faith, and an obligation to moral and ethical values that Catholics possess ("Care
for Creation.")
Catholic Climate Covenant
o a group formed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the
National Religious Partnership for the Environment to encourage Catholic
individuals, parishes, schools and other organizations to pray, learn, assess, act
and advocate on climate change in light of Catholic social and environmental
teaching
o promotes education on the Catholic Social Teachings on environment
o asks members to pledge to pray, promote and educate others on climate change
and ways that we can be accountable contributors to the earth and use its
resources more responsibly ("Catholic Climate Covenant.")
Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolins address to the UN Climate
Change Summit
o explained the existence of climate change and the need to act against climate
change in order to create a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future
generations
o described some changes the Vatican has made and is making in regard to their
energy use and consumption, and the impact that the Vatican has on climate
change
o extended this issue the Vatican is combatting with a call to the leaders at the UN
Climate Change Summit, and all audiences who heard his speech to make
changes to lessen our negative impact on climate change, and to make climate
change an issue that everyone is aware of
o called for the promotion of education in environmental responsibility and the
protection of moral conditions for future generations (Parolin)
Future of Solar Power
"Solar Power's Bright Future"
o discusses the cost factors involved in using solar energy
cost differences lie in location, public subsidies, and the supply vs.
demand factor (Snyder)
"Overpowered By The Sun"
o on April 18th the wind and solar power in Germany combined to produce over
50% of the nations power (Stephens)