Newest solar lot will help WSU save money, strengthen sustainability
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University continues to expand its green energy production capabilities with the completion of a second solar array covered parking lot on the Ogden campus.
More than 1,000 solar panels were installed on top of the new covered structure over the existing public pay lot. Construction on the lot began in late spring and will finish in mid-December. The pay lot is centrally located near the Student Services Center, Shepherd Union and Val A. Browning Center. 
“We’re hoping in the next five to 10 years to do a couple more of these,” said Jacob Cain, interim associate vice president for facilities and campus planning. “They’ve been very successful, and people are very happy with them.”
WSU opened its first solar covered parking lot, W10 on the northwest side of campus, in 2020. While W10’s solar array generates 550 kilowatts of power, the pay lot’s larger array is expected to generate up to 900 kilowatts, Cain said. That power will be used to feed the nearby Student Services Center and Kimball Visual Arts Center.
In addition to providing power to campus, W10 has also served as an outdoor events space on campus, hosting the annual Pioneer Day picnic, among others. Cain said the facilities team has already received inquiries about hosting events in the pay lot when it’s finished.
The public pay lot isn’t the only new solar structure in the works at Weber State. Construction began this fall on the solar-powered “Flaming W” on the mountainside above campus and is expected to be finished in May 2025. Power generated from that array will feed into the Dee Events Center.
The solar arrays are part of Weber State’s continued work to become a sustainable, carbon-neutral campus by 2040. Between the Ogden and Davis campuses, Weber State now has 9,527 solar panels and approximately 25% of its power is solar.
“WSU is thrilled to be more than doubling its Ogden campus solar PV (photovoltaic) capacity with the completion of this project,” said Jennifer Bodine, WSU’s energy and sustainability manager. “In 2007, WSU made a commitment to become a carbon-neutral university, and we are rapidly making progress toward that goal.”
Through its sustainability efforts, Weber State has reduced electricity consumption by 25%, natural gas consumption by 46% and has saved $27.3 million in utility costs since 2007.
Jessica Kokesh, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7316, jessicakokesh@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu