OSU-Cascades Receives $1 Million Grant for Solar Energy

Funds will help the campus move closer to its net-zero energy goal.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Oregon State University – Cascades has received a $1 million grant from the Oregon Department of Energy to purchase and install solar panels on all campus buildings. The solar projects are part of the campus's efforts to achieve its net-zero energy goal, where it generates as much energy as it consumes annually.

Why it matters

OSU-Cascades' net-zero energy goal emerged from community engagement and is a key part of the campus's long-range development plan. The solar installations, combined with the campus's existing groundwater-based geo-exchange system, will provide a significant portion of the campus's annual energy needs as it continues to expand.

The details

The solar projects will annually generate more than 1 million kilowatt hours of clean energy for the campus. The solar panels will be installed on the rooftops of several key campus buildings, including academic halls, a multipurpose building, a student residence, and an early childhood education center. The ODOE funding comes through the agency's Community Renewable Energy Grant Program.

  • The solar projects will be installed later this year.

The players

Oregon State University – Cascades

A branch campus of Oregon State University located in Bend, Oregon.

Oregon Department of Energy

A state agency that provides funding and support for renewable energy projects in Oregon.

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The takeaway

This grant and solar project represent an important step forward for OSU-Cascades in achieving its net-zero energy goal, which will reduce the campus's environmental impact and serve as a model for sustainable development in Central Oregon.