Solar panels at SEMO; a gift from Ameren

Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Southeast Missouri State University and Ameren Missouri partnered on a project to bring 3,500 solar panels to parking lots on campus in an effort to promote renewable energy. Officials cut the ribbon on the project Thursday. The panels, on covered parking at the Show Me Center, will generate the equivalent of the power necessary for 130 homes.

Ameren supervisors, from left, David McKay, Jerad Spain, Brad Hiett and Cory Roper talk with Southeast Missouri State University STEM Deam Dr. Tammy Randolph about logistics of constructing the 3,500 solar panels covering the parking lots in front of the Show Me Center on Thursday, Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
Members of the Cape Girardeau community gather in the shade cast by overhead solar panels, a recent Ameren Missouri project gifted to the university, at the Show Me Center parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
Southeast Missouri State University President Dr. Carlos Vargas gestures up toward the solar panels as he addresses the crowd on at a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official start of operation for the solar panels constructed by Ameren Missouri in the parking lots at the Show Me Center on Thursday, Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
SEMO University President Dr. Carlos Vargas speaks about his interest in the solar panel project and renewable energy and its relevance to the university on Thursday, Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)

(from left) Ameren Regional Account Executive Laura Klipfel, Ameren Missouri Chairman and President Mark Birk and SEMO University President Dr. Carlos Vargas smile together after cutting a ceremonial ribbon to mark the official completion of a canopy of solar panels that cover the parking lots in front of the Show Me Center on Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
SEMO faculty and staff gather in the shade under a canopy of parking lot solar panels on campus on Thursday, Aug. 25. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
The solar panels, which cover the Show Me Center parking lot on Sprigg Street, can generate enough power to sustain 130 homes. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)