You are here
All Project Updates
Search
Search tips:
- This form will search for words in the title OR the description. If you would like to search for the same term(s) across both the title and description, enter the same search term(s) in both fields.
- This form will search for any of the words you enter in a field, not the exact phrase you enter. If you would like to search for an exact phrase, put double quotes (") around the phrase. For example, if you search for Bike Path you will get results containing either the word Bike OR the word Path, but if you search for "Bike Path" you will get results containing the exact phrase Bike Path.
Pages
- Associated Project(s):
Communities, Climate, Equity and Policy - from EcoAmerica
Report on renewable energy for American colleges
Solidarity Gardens is addressing food insecurity in C-U
Surplus reopened
Associated Project(s):Surplus Warehouses reopened at UIC and UIUC UAFR is pleased to announce the equipment surplus warehouses at both UIC and UIUC have now reopened and are accepting scrap/surplus equipment from university departments.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new safety and health related procedures and protocols over the handling of scrap/surplus equipment and access to the surplus warehouse are effective immediately.
Key new protocols include:
- disinfecting scrap/surplus equipment prior to shipment to the surplus warehouse (either by the unit or the campus movers with procedures varying by university)
- an appointment only scheduling system to access the UIUC surplus warehouse
Units must review the new required safety procedures and protocols for each specific campus at the Surplus Warehouse Operations - OBFS website.
Contact
For questions about surplus warehouse operations or the new protocols, contact Magdalena Jach at mj20@uillinois.edu or (312) 585-9171.For questions about specific FABweb disposal requests, please contact Juana Rodriquez at juana@uillinois.edu or (312) 585-9146.
Online camera to watch construction progress
Associated Project(s):Check out this online camera of the Solar Farm 2.0 site: https://app.oxblue.com/open/inovateus/northerncardinal.
Now we can watch it progress from our computer screens!
Fun times, Morgan
Bike Friendly University - Feedback from 2019 Award
Associated Project(s):Please see attached the feedback from 2019 award from League of American Bicyclists on University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 2019 BFU application.
Attached Files:Sustainability Facts Sheet
Associated Project(s):Attached are files for the Sustainability Facts Sheets in both a digital and printed form.
This facts sheet is intended for the following audiences:
- Demographics unfamiliar with campus sustainability.
- New Faculty & Staff
- New & transfer students
- Outreach and Education programs
Quote from MTD to purchase silicone strap bike lights
Associated Project(s):See attached the quote sent by MTD for the Silicone Strap Bike Lights for University of Illinois' share for Light the Night 2020.
Attached Files:Campus Bike Center confirmed as the third location for LTN!
Associated Project(s):Alana Harris confirmed that "We (Campus Rec) have approval to be an outdoor site for the event."
University Bicycle Ordinance - 2020 approved
Associated Project(s):The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign approved the new updates to the University Bicycle Ordinance on Monday, August 17, 2020. Please see attached the updated University Bicycle Ordinance. Click here to view to the document.
Attached Files:LTN follow up: August 19
Associated Project(s):Meeting attended by representatives from: F&S, CBC, MTD, CCRPC, and CCB.
We confirmed that Campus Bike Center could be the third location for Light the Night this year. Sarthak Prasad will confirm with Jake and Alana.
Cynthia Hoyle will send a quote to Sarthak Prasad. Cynthia will also send a draft of the Safety Plan and Warning and Waiver Form for COVID-19.
Sarthak Prasad will work on creating a sign up form for volunteers. He will also work on getting work orders for tables and chairs, and to request a PO. MTD can provide some masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers. Stacey will check if Public Functions can provide hand sanitizers and water for volunteers.
Sarthak will also work on lawn signs and digital signage. List of avenues used to promote Light the Night 2019 will be used as a reference for promoting the Volunteer opportunity and the Distribution event.
The next meeting will be held in two weeks.
The Day After Tomorrow: Reaching Out and Connecting with Other Climat
Associated Project(s):The Youth Climate Justice Forum presents this podcast series in which we will be trying to find ways for all of us to continue to work for climate justice during and after the coronavirus crisis. This week, Paula and Charlotte interview Julia Weber and Isabelle Guinigundo, co-communications directors of the Ohio Youth for Climate Justice.
https://youthclimateforum.wixsite.com/summit/podcast/episode/ff4941c1/th...
Leonhard Rec Center added as Shield pick-up location
Associated Project(s):Leonhard Recreation Center (2307 Sangamon Dr, Champaign, IL 61821. Phone: (217) 398-2550) was added as the Shield pick-up location. Stacey DeLorenzo dropped off 100 Shields at the location to be picked up by bicycle users. This location will be available for Shield pick up from August 24, 2020.
Public Safety Building (Campus Police) added as a Shield pick-up location - Available from August 17, 2020
Associated Project(s):University of Illinois Public Safety (1110 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone: (217) 333-1216) was added as the Shield pick-up location. Stacey DeLorenzo dropped off 250 Shields at the location to be picked up by bicycle users. This location will be available for Shield pick up from August 17, 2020.
draft HMP submitted to IEMA and FEMA
Associated Project(s):On May 29, 2020, Susan Monte submitted the final draft of the updated HMP to IEMA and FEMA for their required "pre-adoption" review and approval. IEMA completed its review of the final draft and has submitted its recommendation to FEMA on 07/28. Presently the FEMA review is in progress. The hope is that FEMA's approval is forthcoming in the next few weeks. If that happens, then the approved updated HMP can be forwarded to the 27 participating entities by this October. Ideally, all participating entities will have the chance to review and adopt the approved updated HMP starting at some point this October.
Funding Approval for Outdoor Recycling Bins
Associated Project(s):Evan DeLucia and Mohamed Attalla approved $310,000 of funding from the Carbon Credit Sales Fund for replacing outdoor trash receptacles with trash and recycling dual bins.
An email of the approval is attached below.
A project memo is attached below.
Solar PVs online
Associated Project(s):The P V’s are installed and are on line. The building number is 0374.
~Jerry Lauderdale, F&S
New Prairie Media article on solar farm 2.0
Associated Project(s):See attached article from a Solar Farm 2.0 interview with Morgan White.
Attached Files:Archived info - previous project description
Associated Project(s):Construction of a new 54-acre, 12.1 megawatt (MWdc) Solar Farm has been approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as the sole member of Prairieland Energy, Inc. Referred to as "Solar Farm 2.0," the new utility-scale array will be located north of Curtis Road, between First Street and Dunlap Avenue in Savoy. Solar Farm 2.0 will produce approximately 20,000 megawatt-hours per year (MWh/year), nearly tripling the university’s existing on-site renewable energy generation. Completion of this project will then grant the University of Illinois with the title of being the third-largest user of renewable power generated on-site for all higher education facilities in the entire country.
Project Inception
In April 2017, the Energy Sustainability Working Advisory Team (SWATeam) recommended that to increase our campus’ generation of solar power, either an extension should be built onto the original Solar Farm or additional solar panels be installed across campus rooftops. From there, the idea of Solar Farm 2.0 was born. In November of that same year, the Sustainability Council approved the concept of this new solar farm, and a site selection was completed during spring 2018.
In the summer of 2018, after discussions with our neighbors in Savoy, the Chancellor’s Capital Review Committee approved the location, and a request for proposals was initiated. Different vendors from across the nation submitted proposals and various designs for this new solar farm, with nineteen submissions in total. By May of 2019, Sol Systems of Washington, D.C. was chosen to complete the project. A twenty-year contract was negotiated, and the overall project is on track to be completed by the end of 2020.
Project Overview
Sol Systems will be responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance for Solar Farm 2.0, and like Solar Farm 1.0, the Urbana campus will use all the generated power. The $20.1M contract is anticipated to save the university $300,000 in the farm’s first year compared to electricity purchased from the wholesale MISO market. Prairieland Energy will buy the solar energy at a fixed rate of $45.99 per MWh, while the University of Illinois will receive the associated renewable energy certificates (RECs) and the right to claim the use of clean energy.
Pollinator Habitat
Other innovative features of Solar Farm 2.0 include the incorporation of a pollinator habitat located beneath the panels. Indigenous plants will be planted throughout the farm to welcome local and migratory birds and insects. Specifically targeted towards butterflies and bees, Solar Farm 2.0 will be a welcoming environment for wildlife, as well as being a demonstration site for meeting the requirements of the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act. A landscaped buffer will also be included in the final design of Solar Farm 2.0, creating visual screening of the solar panels along the south edge of the farm bordering Savoy.