Harvard, MIT, and Mass General Brigham (MGB) have launched the Consortium for Climate Solutions, a groundbreaking renewable energy initiative involving higher education, healthcare, and cultural institutions. The collaboration aims to leverage collective purchasing power to overcome barriers to cost-effective renewable energy development and support large-scale investments.

The consortium finalized agreements to develop 408 MW of renewable energy through the Big Elm Solar Project in Texas (200 MW, operational since 2024) and the Bowman Wind Project in North Dakota (208 MW, expected online in 2026). Together, these projects will generate clean energy equivalent to the annual electricity use of 130,000 U.S. homes.

Harvard’s chief sustainability officer, Heather Henriksen, highlighted the University’s goal to purchase 100% renewable electricity by 2026 as part of its strategy to become fossil-fuel-neutral. The effort aligns with Harvard's broader objectives, including campus decarbonization by 2050 and advancing energy efficiency.

The consortium, supported by PowerOptions, also involves smaller nonprofits and municipalities, including Beth Israel Lahey, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the City of Cambridge, providing them access to affordable renewable energy resources.

Source: news.harvard.edu