Solar Arrays to come to Public Schools
DENTON, Md. — Kenyon Energy and Washington Gas Energy Systems Inc. have teamed up with Caroline County Public Schools to build, operate and own three ground-mounted solar arrays. The expected annual production of 3,100 MWH will help power five schools.
The Caroline County Public School system is located on Maryland’s rural Eastern Shore, where 5,500 students are split between five elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and a countywide career and technology center.
Greensboro Elementary, Colonel Richardson Middle and High, North Caroline High and the Career and Technology Center will hopefully be using the sun’s rays by September to cover between 75 and 80 percent of their energy needs.
Kenyon Energy will construct the solar arrays and Washington Gas Energy Systems Inc. will own and operate them. Over a combined area of eight acres, 8,288 panels will placed at each of the five schools; this will make it the largest solar project associated with a K-12 public school system on the Eastern Shore.
“This project represents a unique collaboration between our public school system and solar energy providers and investors,” said Milton Nagel, assistant superintendent for administrative services for Caroline County Public Schools. “We are pleased to note that this solar project will not only help power our schools, but also serve as an educational vehicle in our classrooms. In addition, there will be no upfront cost to the Caroline County Public School System to undertake this effort. It’s a win, win, win.”
Construction is expected to begin in staggered phases throughout July and should be completed in September.
The greenhouses gases avoided as a result of the venture is the equivalent of recycling 745 tons of waste or removing 419 passenger cars off the road for a year.
The arrays are the most recent step that the school system has made to increase efficiency. All 10 public school buildings are certified by Energy Star and a conservation program reduced the school system’s total consumption by 20 percent in the first three years.
The schools chosen for the arrays were selected because they had extra land nearby to accommodate the panels needed for the project; the other five in the county did not have the space unless playgrounds were removed. Colonel Richardson Middle and High will share a solar field, and North Caroline High and the Career and Technology Center will as well, since each pair of schools occupies the same land. Greensboro will have it’s own field.
A sixth school that may receive solar panels is scheduled for renovation in the next few years. The remaining four schools will most likely use net metering in a few years. Net metering is when the property is supplied by solar facilities located off-site.
“We are pleased to support the Caroline County Public School System’s solar initiative, which is in accord with our mission to invest in the development of renewable energy assets for the betterment of all,” said Sanjiv Mahan, vice president of business development for Washington Gas Energy Systems. “We thank Caroline County Public Schools for being our partner in this important project, bringing value to the community both educationally and environmentally.”
Washington Gas Energy Systems Inc., an affiliate of Washington Gas, provides design-build energy efficient and sustainable solutions for commercial and government clients. WGES also manages commercial solar projects for its subsidizers, WGL Holdings Inc.
“We at Kenyon Energy look forward to working with Washington Gas Energy Systems and Caroline County Public Schools to install the solar arrays and help integrate this technology into the students’ educational curriculum,” said Michael Dykstra, Kenyon Energy senior vice president.
Kenyon Energy provides cost-effective, fixed-price, renewable energy to offset a portion of traditionally purchased energy consumption. Aside form offering power purchase agreements, Kenyon Energy also provides engineer procure and construct options. The firm provides funding, ownership and ongoing operations for qualified PV systems ranging in size from 250kW to 10MW.
The funding is coming from a prior purchase agreement with WGES, who provides all of the capital, according to Nagel. In return, the district signed a 20-year power agreement to purchase the solar power that the fields produce.