May 23, 2013 12:03 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is venturing into solar power for their campus, reported the News-Miner Thursday.

A one-megawatt array of solar panels will be built on the schools campus and construction is tentatively set for April 2014. Fluctuations and taxes in the cost of the materials could affect the date, but if all goes as planned, the panels would be operational by October 2014, according to ­the News-Miner.

Jenny Campbell, UAF's design and construction senior project manager told the News-Miner the panels would provide about five percent of the university's annual energy needs.

The final details still need to be approved by the University of Alaska Board of Regents, but UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers told the News-Miner he is optimistic.

"The numbers are close on it," Rogers said. "We've got to work through the design."

Rogers said that Siemens Industry Inc. approached the university about building the array of solar panels after giving a dozen buildings on campus energy upgrades.

Amber McDonough, account executive at Siemens told the News-Miner the final coat has yet to be determined and that it is partly dependent on the pending UA Board of Regents' vote taking place June 6-7.

UAF currently pays Golden Valley Electric Association 22 cents per kilowatt-hour. McDonough estimated Siemen's solar panel cost to be about 19 cents per kilowatt-hour.

For Rogers, the project is about more than saving money on electricity. He told the News-Miner that this has the potential to test how solar energy would work at a high capacity.

Campbell told the News-Miner the project requires foundation work, mounting of panels and electricians to hook them up.

"This is a big deal in terms of making a statement for diversifying energy, but not a big deal construction wise."

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