Bernhard's Tulane energy project a two-time finalist for 2022 P3 Awards

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Bernhard announced today that a 30-year Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) partnership reached in January with Tulane University has been named a finalist for the 2022 P3 Awards in two categories. Founded in 2018, the P3 Awards recognize excellence in public infrastructure projects that use private financing in long-term partnering agreements.

Known as Project RISE (Renew, Innovate, Sustain, Engage), the partnership between Tulane and Bernhard was named a finalist in the “Best Education and Higher Education Project” and “Best Energy Project” categories.

“At Bernhard, our teams are celebrated for being innovative and thinking outside-the-box,” said Rob Guthrie, Bernhard’s Chief Development Officer. “Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award in multiple categories is evidence that we are breaking new ground in what was once considered possible in energy efficiency.”

Announced in January 2022, Project RISE is designed to help Tulane University substantially reduce on-campus greenhouse gas emissions, with a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the agreement, Tulane transferred to Bernhard the authority to operate, upgrade and maintain energy infrastructure at the university’s uptown and downtown campuses. Bernhard will complete a host of major energy infrastructure improvements at Tulane facilities as part of Project RISE, including construction of a 1-megawatt solar energy plant that will supply 10 percent of electrical demand at Tulane’s uptown campus.

“This P3 award nomination speaks to the innovation of the unique relationship between Tulane and Bernhard,” said Patrick Norton, Tulane University chief operating officer. “We are proud that Project RISE has been selected as a finalist in both of these categories, and that the university’s long-term commitment to sustainability and resilience has been recognized on a national scale.”

Tulane University president Michael Fitts said of Project RISE: “The Bernhard and Tulane partnership will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as we journey toward a carbon neutral future that also fully supports our critical research and educational missions. By increasing efficiency, building resilience and seeking alternative energy sources, we also expect to achieve the goal of a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2025 as outlined in Tulane’s Climate Action Plan.”

In 2021, an EaaS partnership between Bernhard and East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Ala., was a finalist for the P3 Awards’ Best Social Infrastructure Project of the year. Winners of the 2022 P3 Awards will be announced on Oct. 11, 2022.

For more information about the P3 Awards, visit p3awards.com