The University of Pittsburg and Vesper Energy have cut the ribbon on the Gaucho Solar project, a 20 MW, 68-acre solar farm – one of the largest in Western Pennsylvania.
Vesper Energy began construction on the Gaucho Solar project in November 2022, and it is located near Pittsburgh International Airport on the border of Findlay Township and Independence Township. It will provide 100% of its energy to the University of Pittsburgh for the next 20 years through a power purchase agreement, which is expected to account for 18% of the campus’s electricity usage per year, contributing to Pitt’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2037.
The Gaucho Solar project is expected to produce more than 35,700 MW-hours of electricity per year, reducing Pitt’s greenhouse gas emissions by 15,452 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, Vesper Energy said. The university has plans to use local hydropower in the future, meaning at least 42% of its energy will come from local renewables in the future.
In addition to providing energy for the school, the project will serve as part of the school’s curriculum, allowing students to see a solar farm at work firsthand. Vesper Energy described the site as pollinator-friendly and said it has the capability to improve water quality, reduce erosion, and serve as a habitat for wildlife.
The Texas-based Vesper Energy has five other projects in Pennsylvania either proposed or under construction.
The University of Pittsburgh and Vesper Energy officially cut the ribbon on the Gaucho Solar project. This project sits on 68 acres and is one of the largest solar projects in Western Pennsylvania, with about 55,000 solar panels generating electricity. (Courtesy: Vesper)
