After years of debate over possible wind or solar projects, and considerable pressure from students demanding the college divest from fossil fuel interests and address climate change, Grinnell College has signed a 20-year deal to buy solar energy from a development near campus. Trusted Energy will develop the 30-acre solar farm, one of the largest private solar installations in the state. Grinnell College expects to save $3 million in electricity costs over 20 years, buying the solar energy in place of power from fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas. The move is expected to shrink the college’s carbon footprint by 18%. The college wants to be carbon neutral by 2040. The Grinnell College Board of Trustees established a task force in 2017 to explore ways to use less fossil fuel and to reduce carbon emissions.