A 5-megawatt solar panel installation being built in Weld County will provide the University of Colorado Boulder with 9.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar energy annually, equivalent to powering more than 850 homes.

Some 8,000 solar panels will provide CU with virtual net metering and renewable energy credits as part of a program established by Colorado Senate Bill 21-261 in 2021.

This allows CU to receive net-metering credits for power generated off of the university’s campus, which will lower the university’s electricity bills.

The agreement is for 20 years of power production for the campus.

National renewable energy company Pivot Energy is building the solar installation and will be solely responsible for construction, operation and maintenance.

“Pivot Energy is proud to partner with the University of Colorado Boulder on this project and excited to start construction,” said Mat Elmore, senior vice president of Strategic Accounts at Pivot Energy, in a news release. “This is a win-win for both Colorado’s largest university and Pivot – helping CU Boulder reach its renewable energy goals, and Pivot accelerate the shift to solar energy throughout the nation.”

Part of the maintenance plan includes “agrivoltaics,” which means that about 100 sheep will provide “lamb-scaping services” on site to manage the vegetation from April through October each year, according to a release. A local rancher will diversify ranch income by grazing sheep on the additional property made available by this project.

“This partnership with Pivot Energy is a powerful example of how CU Boulder is leading with purpose,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz in the release. “We’re not just talking about sustainability – we’re building it into the fabric of our operations in ways that are both financially responsible and environmentally impactful.”