Historic Wind Energy Agreement Expected to Power 100% of Bentley University Campus Operations

Bentley University has entered a transaction to purchase electricity generated by the Kibby Wind Farm located in Maine — a move anticipated to power 100% of campus operations through the end of 2027. The four-year agreement, signed in December 2023, aligns with the university’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, which commits to carbon neutrality by 2030.  

“When considering the next steps in the university’s renewable energy strategy we determined that sourcing electricity from local, renewable resources was the most impactful choice,” says Natalie Hayes, director of Bentley’s Office of Sustainability (OOS).  

Sophie Rodgers ’20, formerly a senior manager in the OOS and a critical player in securing this agreement, adds, “This was a major undertaking by Bentley, and it keeps the university on target with the goals in its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.” 

Choosing a resource in the northeast, according to Hayes, was intentional to provide an added learning component for Bentley students. Office of Sustainability staff collaborated with Assistant Professor of Energy Zana Cranmer in the Department of Natural Sciences to create an intensive field course on wind energy that will incorporate a site visit to the wind farm. “We’re excited that Sophie will continue her extraordinary contributions to Bentley as an alumna working with Professor Cranmer on this course design and delivery,” Hayes says.  

The field course, in development for spring 2025, will complement a series of courses that Cranmer teaches about energy — with an emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Kibby Wind Farm is owned and operated by REV Renewables (“REV”), an industry leader in the development, acquisition and operation of renewables and energy storage. Formed by LS Power in 2021, REV manages one of the nation’s largest independent portfolios of renewables and energy storage, with an operating portfolio approaching 3 GW and a substantial development pipeline. REV’s multi-disciplinary team and unique commercial approach enables the company to deliver tailored solutions for partners and customers such as Bentley.

CLIMATE COMMITMENTS

Bentley’s agreement, which provides physical energy from the Kibby Wind Farm, was advised by Roots Clean Energy, whose President, Alex Sowyrda, says, “Bentley was determined to reduce their carbon footprint and was never willing to cut corners. They never wavered in their commitment to positively impacting a more sustainable future. From the first conversation, they were determined to have 100% of the campus powered by electricity generated from a local renewable resource.”     

Bentley’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan focuses on climate resilience, further reductions in campus greenhouse gas emissions, equity and education. As of fiscal year 2023, the university’s sustainability accomplishments include:  

• Carbon Footprint: 79% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (as compared to a 2008 baseline)   

• Waste Diversion: 41% waste diversion rate  

• Water: reduced its water use by 5.92% as compared to 2013   

• Low-Carbon Commuting: 22% of employees and commuting students use low-carbon transportation for commuting at least some of the time  

The university’s strategic commitment to local energy through initiatives like the Kibby Wind Farm agreement supports data showing that sustainability matters increasingly to Americans, especially younger generations. Forbes, for example, reported that “Gen Z is emerging as ‘the sustainability generation.’” According to Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, Gen Zs and millennials are doing more and demanding more around climate change. In addition, a Bentley-Gallup survey found that 59% of Americans believe it is extremely important for businesses to prioritize practices like operating in an environmentally sustainable way.  

“Approximately 50% of Bentley’s carbon footprint comes from electricity use, so purchasing electricity generated by the Kibby Wind Farm is a huge step for the university to stay on the path toward carbon neutrality through clean energy sources,” Rodgers says. “It’s a historic move for Bentley and supports the Office of Sustainability’s vision for the university to be a model for sustainability in higher education, developing organizational leaders committed to making their institutions, communities and the world more sustainable.”