The South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office has awarded Columbia College $193,530 in federal stimulus funds to install solar thermal water heating on student dormitories.

The college will install solar thermal water heating systems in two dormitories, the Mirse and Wesley Halls. The 32 panel solar system will replace steam water heating produced from natural gas.

This clean energy project funded by the Energy Office is part of $3.3 million renewable and alternative energy grants awarded to 12 non-profit organizations and government entities in South Carolina.

“By installing these solar thermal water heaters, Columbia College will make significant steps towards energy efficiency as the college replaces older systems which cost much more to operate,” John Clark, director of the Energy Office, said.

Other South Carolina projects funded through this program are:

·         $500,000 to Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) to install generators that create electricity from methane gas released from the break down of waste from the water waste treatment process.

·         $500,000 to Claflin University to install the first solar adsorption cooling system on its campus that uses solar power to create hot water and then cool water to provide a portion of its heating and cooling needs for the new Bio-Energy Park and Research Campus.

·         $500,000 to Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. to install 70 solar water heating systems in homes of members of York, Berkeley, Santee and Pee Dee Electric Cooperatives.

·         $475,000 to Santee Cooper to install solar panels on the roof of its buildings in Myrtle Beach, creating the “Grand Strand Solar Station,” the largest solar system in the state.

·         $340,000 to Furman University to install solar panels on the roof of the Physical Activities Center which will provide electricity to the campus.

·         $240,000 to Plug In Carolina to install 28 electric vehicle charging stations in Union, Rock Hill and Myrtle Beach.

·         $213,521 to The Columbia Museum of Art to install solar panels on the roof of its building and to create a monitoring system where patrons will be able to view the amount of power created.

·         $176,626 to the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce to install seven wind turbines on ocean-front high rise towers.

·         $111,500 to the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Johns Island, S.C. to install 17 solar hot water systems on 15 housing structures and conference center.

·         $49,594 to York County Natural Gas Authority (YCNGA) to convert seven Ford F-150 light duty trucks to utilize compressed natural gas.

·         $17,239 to the Powdersville Water District to install solar panels to provide power to a tank facility.

In order to be considered for these grants, projects had to foster market penetration of clean energy technologies, provide sustained reduction of fossil fuel consumption and create permanent jobs in South Carolina. Organizations must implement the projects within two years of receiving the award.

These projects are funded through a grant from the Department of Energy under Award Number(s) DE-EE0000158.