An Ohio institute of higher education stands to host the university building with the largest solar panel roof in the country.

The College of Wooster in northeast Ohio is working on installing a 271,000 kilowatt solar roof atop the Scot Center, a new student recreation and athletic facility. The new facility is scheduled to open in January 2012, the College of Wooster announced in September.

"For the last three years we have been getting progressively better organized, more ambitious, and more serious about modeling sustainability that the larger society might adopt," said Grant Cornwell, Wooster’s president. "Today we take a dramatic and exciting step forward on that road."

Encompassing 20,000 square feet, the solar-paneled roof will generate enough power to sustain one student dormitory at Wooster.

Carbon Vision, a renewable energy company also in northeast Ohio, owns the solar installation, which it leases to the school. The school will purchase all power generated for 12.5 years while the company applies for federal and state grants and federal tax credits to defray the costs of the solar installation.

"Carbon Vision is excited to be a part of this landmark move into solar energy by the College of Wooster," said Michael Shaut, Carbon Vision CEO. "This project is emblematic of how new campus facilities should be built in the 21st Century."