Colorado State University Pueblo becomes Colorado's first net-zero electricity campus

Colorado State University Pueblo wanted to expand renewable energy use and reduce its environmental footprint while managing rising energy costs and aging infrastructure. The university also sought to avoid major upfront capital investments and reduce long-term technology risk. Its goal was to become the first university in Colorado to achieve net-zero electricity using solar energy as the primary power source for its academic campus.

To support its sustainability objectives, Colorado State University Pueblo developed a campus energy strategy centered on a 23-acre solar farm paired with battery storage. The system generates approximately 12 million kWh of electricity annually and supports campus operations through a microgrid. Johnson Controls helped implement the solar, battery storage, microgrid, and financing solutions that enabled the university to lock in electricity costs for 25 years while avoiding significant upfront capital expenditures.

Colorado State University Pueblo became the first university in Colorado to reach net-zero electricity for its academic facilities. Through its solar-plus-storage microgrid, the university now generates 100% net solar production, reducing reliance on the grid, strengthening energy resilience, and advancing long-term campus sustainability goals.

The initiative also helped the university surpass sustainability targets related to greenhouse gas emissions, energy management, and renewable energy adoption while modernizing campus energy infrastructure to support long-term efficiency and performance.

The renewable energy initiative delivered measurable environmental, operational, and financial benefits:

• Realized approximately $800,000 in first-year energy cost savings, reducing overall energy spend.
• Reduced emissions equivalent to removing approximately 1,000 homes and 1,700 vehicles annually.
• Reached net-zero electricity and delivers 100% net solar production for academic facilities.

Colorado State University Pueblo is a public university in southern Colorado serving approximately 4,000 students. The university's 275-acre campus includes 18 academic buildings and offers undergraduate and graduate programs across business, engineering, health sciences, education, the arts, and other fields.