Timeline of Sustainability Efforts at Carleton

Carleton’s clean energy journey began with construction of our two wind turbines (installed in 2004 and 2011) which put us on a path to consuming carbon-free electricity. But we needed solutions to drive down carbon emissions, and we were particularly interested in finding low carbon ways to serve our intense winter heating loads. Our Utility Master Plan, approved in 2017, made huge gains on that front by transitioning Carleton’s district heating system from steam distribution to low temperature (120° F) hot water tied to a geothermal heat pump and three geothermal bore fields.

Our campus utility system now incorporates four forms of renewable energy — wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal — and is flexible enough to take advantage of future advancements in renewable energy technologies.

2004

September 25, 2004 marked the dedication of Carleton’s 1.65 megawatt wind turbine, the first utility grade wind turbine in the country to be owned by a college. This turbine replaces about 40 percent of the college’s total electrical load with renewable, non-polluting energy.

Carleton's first wind turbine

2006

Electrical system upgrading moves the campus grid from 4160 Volts to 13,800 Volts, enabling a second wind turbine to be directly connected to the campus grid.

Electrical breakers

2007

Carleton signs the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which allows each campus across the nation to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and a carbon neutrality date.

Climate Commitment logo

2009

Carleton installs its first solar arrays on the roofs of Cassat Hall and James Hall, helping both of these buildings achieve a LEED Gold rating.

Cassat Hall, with solar panels on the roof

2011

Carleton builds its second wind turbine, which provides power directly to Carleton’s electrical grid. The new turbine will serve one-third the annual power needs of the campus and reduce Carleton’s carbon footprint by approximately 10 percent.

Carleton’s Board of Trustees approves a Climate Action Plan that will guide sustainability efforts for years to come.

foggy morning of the wind turbines and solar panels

2017

Carleton becomes the first campus in Minnesota — and one of the first in the nation — to install a district-energy scale geothermal heating system.

Drilling on the Bald Spot with the Chapel in the background

2021

The College shuts off steam for the last time in the 111 year history of Carleton’s heating plant. This marks a significant milestone in the College’s history as the campus switches from steam to hot water geothermal energy.

Carleton steam stack

2022

College Council approves the Student Life and Housing plan. New student housing at Lilac Hill uses passive house technology & incredibly thin walls with special ventilation to reduce heating & cooling needs. The housing development also includes solar powered electric.

Student biking in front of passive solar, sustainable student housing buildings on Carleton College's campus

2023

Fossil fuel divestment efforts succeed. The Board of Trustees votes to reduce exposure to fossil fuel investments in the college’s endowment by immediately eliminating all direct holdings of fossil fuel companies and resolving to make no new investments in private funds that focus exclusively on oil and gas extraction. 

Campus aerial on a lovely fall day

2024

Carleton announces a new Framework for Sustainability, Climate Action, and Environmental Justice, seeking to comprehensively address the climate crisis, and to advance sustainability and environmental justice through education, community engagement, and operations.

Aerial of the Arb with two people standing in grasses