GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College is looking at a new way to power its campus, using sunlight.

While Thiel College students are preparing for classes, chair of the Thiel College Board of Trustees Rod Wilt is looking into a project that would bring solar panels to the campus.

The solar field project would be used to create a new learning environment for students, to reduce energy costs and to reduce the campus's carbon footprint.

Dominick DiRienzo, director of communications and marketing at Thiel College, said the project would be a great contribution to county development.

"The college is incredibly excited to be involved in community and economic development in the county. That's really the larger and over aching theme is just the contribution to county development, the investment, the infrastructure in the county," said DiRienzo.

A 30-acre site on the east side of campus is being considered for the project. Wilt said if it's at max capacity, it could power between 25% to 40% of the campus. Wilt is also considering a spot for a pilot project that is behind the football field. 

"We would perhaps look at perhaps a pilot project, and that would help us power maybe a specific area. Maybe a specific area. Maybe a football field or part of a building. I think when we get to a larger scale project in the out years, we could really be looking at powering a significant portion of the campus," said Wilt.

Before anything moves forward, Wilt will present his ideas to the Thiel College board. 

Wilt reached out to Faith Technologies and Usource Energy about the project, but everything is still in the beginning stages.

DiRienzo said it's too early to tell if the power created from the solar panels will be used places outside of campus, but even if it isn't, it will be beneficial to the community.