Binghamton University officials have added yet another undertaking to their environmental efforts, one that looks to contribute to the betterment of New York state, and even the country at large.

Last summer, Rep. Maurice Hinchey of the 22nd District of New York announced the creation of The Solar Energy Consortium ‘ a new league comprised of private and public institutions dedicated to researching new ways to derive energy from the sun.

BU, along with Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, among others, joined the collaboration, and plan to work with TSEC in hopes of developing new cost-efficient solar-powered energy systems. Founders hope to eventually distribute the more cost-efficient systems to manufacturing centers statewide.

According to Gerald Sonnenfeld, BU’s vice president for research, the University was asked to be a member of the consortium early this past fall, and officials decided the coalition’s goals seemed to run parallel to those of the school.

‘Since solar energy matched well with the interest of our faculty and the goals of the Center of Excellence, the University decided it would be advantageous to become a member of the consortium,’√ù he said. Much like the Center of Excellence’ the University’s electronics powerhouse, TSEC aim to revitalize New York.

The University’s involvement with TSEC compliments the climate compact that President Lois DeFleur signed this past September by allowing development of new technologies that may decrease the reliance on fossil fuels for the University, and largely, the state.

While the affiliation’s research will be funded by outside agencies, BU will be donating its faculty, students and staff.

In addition to environmental and monetary benefits, the project is slated to yield 300 to 500 jobs in its initial phase and thousands more as it develops in the New York state region, according to a statement made by Hinchey in a press release from December.

Hinchey’s hopes for the alliance go beyond local and state-wide goals, stretching to possible benefits for the entire country.

‘New York has the potential to be the model for the rest of the country and the world when it comes to solar power development,’ Hinchey states in the release.

‘By using solar power, the United States will once and for all be able to kick its addiction to oil, especially foreign oil, which will in turn save the environment but also greatly strengthen our national security,’ the document reads. ‘To think that New York will be front and center for all of this is exciting and very promising for our state’s future.’