2 Maryland Schools To Be Powered by Solar Energy

The Kent County, MD Board of Education, in partnership with the Kent County Commissioners, is building a 1,579 kW solar array to power two schools and a community center.

The ground mount system, located on 10 acres owned by the board, will produce approximately 2,100 megawatt hours per year an d will provide energy to Kent County High School, Worton Elementary School, and the Kent County Community Center.

The system, which will be installed by Standard Solar, is being financed through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES). As part of the agreement, WGES will pay the installation costs and will be the owner and operator of the system. For their part, Kent County and the Board of Education have agreed to purchase the power generated by the array for the life of the contract.

"The Kent County Commissioners are excited to partner with the Board of Education to bring a major source of clean, renewable energy to Kent County," said Wayne Morris, director of Public Works, Kent County. "This project will provide financial savings and additional energy security to the County and Board of Education, and will also provide a great educational component to the schools and students of Kent County. This is the first of what we hope to be many solar sites to service county-owned facilities and help us contain costs and improve our local environment."
 
Construction of the system will begin this month and is expected to be completed in spring of 2012, according to information released by WGES.

More information about Kent County Public Schools is available at kent.k12.md.us. Visit wges.com for more information on Washington Gas Energy Services.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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