100% Renewable | Middlebury

Middlebury achieved carbon neutrality in 2016 through a combination of renewable energy sources, efficiency and conservation efforts, and land conservation for carbon credits. With adoption of Energy2028 the focus now centers on renewables and continued reduction of energy use.

As of June 30 2024 Middlebury sourced 70 percent of its energy from renewables. The chart below also shows a reduction in energy use of 11% below a 2018 baseline.

a bar chart showing years on the x-axis and total energy use at Middlebury, in millions of British thermal units, on the y-axis. Each year’s bar shows the proportion of renewable sources and fossil fuel sources. The years start in 2016 and end in 2028. The chart shows that 2018 is the baseline year for the Energy2028 initiative. For the years 2018 to 2024 the chart shows an increase in renewable sources from 62% to 70 % and a 10% reduction in total energy use. The bars for 2025 to 2028 show projected chan

Energy2028 Renewables Portfolio

Middlebury’s Energy2028 Renewables Portfolio includes the following sources of both thermal and electrical energy:

Biomass (woodchip) gasification system that generates both steam and electricity for the campus.
Renewable natural gas from anaerobic digestion of cow manure and food waste on a local dairy farm. The gas is used to generate steam and electricity for the campus.
Numerous solar projects on and near the campus that together provide 50% of campus electricity. The other half is supplied by Green Mountain Power (GMP) which is 100% carbon neutral and 82% renewable as of 2023. GMP’s goal is to be 100% renewable by 2030.

South Street Solar Project

In 2024 Middlebury celebrated its largest solar project to date - a 5 megawatt system on 30 acres of College land that generates nearly 40% of electric use. Link to the South Street solar project production website.