- Southern Oregon University (SOU) installed two new solar arrays and its first battery storage system, boosting campus energy resilience.
- The university also launched a student fellowship program to train future leaders in responding to climate-related challenges.
Southern Oregon University (SOU) has strengthened its position as a regional leader in energy resilience by completing two new solar arrays and installing its first battery-based energy storage system. These initiatives bring SOU closer to its goal of generating 100% of the campus’s daytime electricity.
The new arrays, installed at Lithia Motors Pavilion (241.2 kW) and The Hawk Dining Commons (160.9 kW), add 402 kW of capacity. The battery system at the Hawk site ensures critical facilities maintain power during outages, supporting both renewable energy generation and emergency resilience.
SOU partnered with Ashland-based True South Solar for the installations, funded through Oregon’s Community Renewable Energy Program, the Student Green Fund, and a state sustainability allocation for technical and regional universities.
Becs Walker, SOU Director of Sustainability, said, “We are positioning SOU as a leader in energy and community resilience. The Lithia Motors Pavilion project represents the largest solar array in the City of Ashland, and the Hawk Dining Commons introduces our first battery energy storage system.”
In a recent test, the Hawk Dining Commons maintained lighting, a cooler, and a cooking area using only solar and stored energy, demonstrating the system’s reliability during power disruptions.
SOU now operates ten on-campus solar arrays totalling 804.21 kW, a variety at the Higher Education Centre in Medford and six pole-mounted STrackers on leased land. Three campus arrays already support net-zero buildings, reinforcing the university’s commitment to decarbonisation and long-term energy savings.
The university has secured $5.8 million in state and federal funding for energy generation and resilience projects, including a $2 million federal appropriation to launch the Community Resilience and Leadership (CRL) Student Fellows Program. The year-long fellowship integrates sustainability coursework, field experience, and mentorship, preparing students to respond to climate-related challenges such as wildfires, extreme heat, and smoke.
Walker emphasised that these initiatives link SOU’s renewable energy infrastructure to academic programs, cultivating emerging leaders who can strengthen campus and regional community resilience.