Feb 17 2011
The University of Maryland, which was chosen as the Sunburst Initiative Partner for the Maryland Energy Administration Project, in Maryland and granted funding to encourage the usage of renewable energy in public buildings will soon sport 2,600 solar panels and generate green solar energy.
Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES), a renewable energy solutions providing company, chosen in a competitive bidding process will invest the balance amount required for the project to complete the installation. UMD under a signed accord with WGES will buy the power generated by the solar panels for a period of 20 years. Standard Solar, a Rockville, MD-based company, owned and managed by WGES will complete the installation of the 631 kW solar system over the roof of UMD’s Seven buildings multi-use facility located within the campus.
The solar installation when completed will generate around 792 MWh of renewable power annually. The clean power produced by the system will reduce around 600 tons carbon dioxide emissions every year, which can be equated to cutting down of greenhouse gas discharges generated by the use of 64,000 gallons of gasoline every year or around 1.3 million gallons in the 20 year period of the system usage.