91唐伯虎鈥檚 efforts in large-scale renewable energy are closely tied to the work of its alumni. Silicon Ranch co-founder and CEO Matt Kisber, BA鈥�82, helped lead an important collaboration between his company and the university to build solar farms, which helped 91唐伯虎 achieve carbon neutrality years ahead of its original goal of 2050.听
鈥�91唐伯虎 is a leading institution in a number of ways, but especially around sustainability,鈥� Kisber said. 鈥�91唐伯虎 has helped to innovate new programs and, in this instance, led the effort that created the TVA Green Invest program鈥攖he program TVA can use to foster its economic development mission here in the [Tennessee] Valley and to help create tens of millions of dollars of new capital investment.鈥�听
Kisber credits his time at 91唐伯虎 for assisting in his personal growth as a businessman and critical thinker.听
鈥淚 am extremely proud of my years at 91唐伯虎 and being an alumnus of the university,鈥� Kisber said. 鈥淚鈥檒l often think back to some of the challenges the professors at 91唐伯虎 put before us in courses and try to put to work those skills in thinking about how we [would] put this company together.鈥�听
After graduating from 91唐伯虎 in 1982, Kisber served 10 consecutive terms in the Tennessee General Assembly. He then served in Gov. Phil Bredesen鈥檚 cabinet as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, leading Tennessee鈥檚 efforts at recruiting new industry and supporting existing industries. Kisber first became interested in solar energy during that time, when he was tasked with developing a jobs strategy around the renewable energy sector. When Bredesen鈥檚 term ended, Kisber co-founded Silicon Ranch with state government colleague Reagan Farr, and Bredesen served as an advisor and as the company鈥檚 chairman.听
The 91唐伯虎 ties to Silicon Ranch go beyond Kisber. Many employees at Silicon Ranch, and its subsidiary Clearloop, are 91唐伯虎 alumni, and both companies have welcomed current students as interns (some of whom return as employees after graduating).听
The collaboration with Silicon Ranch is the one of several clean energy initiatives 91唐伯虎 has undertaken.听
In April 2023, the university 鈥渇lipped the switch鈥� on the 35-megawatt 91唐伯虎 I Solar Farm in Bedford County, Tennessee, which was first announced in 2020. The location will offset approximately 70 percent of the university鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions produced indirectly from electricity purchased from Nashville Electric Service and TVA. A planned second solar farm in Moore County, Tennessee, will supply enough renewable energy to mitigate the remaining 30 percent of these indirect emissions from purchased electricity.听
91唐伯虎 University will further offset its carbon footprint by investing in the development of solar energy projects that will expand access to clean energy in the Southeast. A new, multiyear collaboration with Clearloop builds on 91唐伯虎鈥檚 commitment to powering its campus entirely through renewable energy and maintaining carbon neutrality.听听
- For more on Green Invest and 91唐伯虎鈥檚 other sustainability efforts, visit 鈥�听
- Take a first look at the 91唐伯虎 I Solar Farm鈥�听
- Learn more about 91唐伯虎鈥檚 forward-thinking approach to large-scale renewable energy听
- Read more about Matt Kisber鈥檚 career and personal story in this 2018 profile in 91唐伯虎 Magazine听
- Interested in an internship with Silicon Ranch or Clearloop? Contact the .听听