Univ of Maryland East Shore activates 2.2 MW PV Farm

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) will officially activates its 2.2 megawatt photovoltaic solar farm on March 28, 2011.  This is a significant event for a number of reasons.

This is the largest active solar farm in Maryland with more than 7,800 solar panels covering 17 acres --roughly the area of 13 football fields. It is expected to produce enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of about 315 average U.S. homes --that's 3.38 million kilowatt hours annually. During the next 20 years, UMES will purchase from SunEdison the electricity produced by the farm. SunEdison built and will operate and maintain the solar farm.

Significantly, UMES will pay a predictable and reasonable rate for that energy over the full 20 years of the power purchase agreement between the company and the campus. All rate increases are built in -- no unexpected price fluctuations.

Although it sounds strange to call sunlight "green," this project qualifies for the designation. It will reduce the environmental impact of UMES over the next two decades by removing some 121 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions -- the equivalent of removing more than 11,800 automobiles from the road for a year.

No public money was used for the project. SunEdison financed and built the array, and has agreed to maintain the facility for the next 20 years. The fuel for the electricity that will be produced -- sunlight -- is free and exists regardless of whether we choose to harness it for our own use.

We have been hearing talk about solar energy for many years. Like wind power, the fuel that provides the power is free. Also like wind, it has taken decades to develop technology that is reliable, capable of efficiently harnessing the power of the sun and, most importantly, affordable and cost-effective.

Today, we are beginning to usher in a new era on the Lower Shore. By developing alternative sources of energy, we can help ensure that when traditional sources of power are no longer viable -- whether because of increased costs, decreasing supply in a world of increasing demand or unacceptable environmental consequences --our society will continue to have access to affordable energy to maintain our quality of life.

UMES is setting an example we can all choose to follow.

Source:  delmarvanow