UNC Charlotte has installed a 224-panel rooftop solar array on its Facility Operations Building, adding 130 kilowatts of capacity. The system is expected to generate about 187,000 kilowatt-hours per year, offsetting roughly 117 tons of carbon dioxide annually and saving the university $13,300 in electricity costs. The $352,774 project was funded through North Carolina House Bill 1292, which supports energy conservation measures in public institutions. The array will power the building directly, with surplus electricity sent to the Duke Energy grid. According to the university, the system could charge 8 to 9 electric vehicles daily or supply 21 to 23 homes for a year. The payback period is estimated at under 27 years, though rising utility rates could shorten that timeline. The project also includes two solar picnic tables near McEniry Hall, funded by the Charlotte Green Initiative, providing outdoor charging and study space for students.
