REC Solar and Kenyon Energy Unveil 2 MW of Solar Energy at Three Maryland Schools

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--REC Solar, a leader in solar system design and installation, today announced the completion of three solar power installations totaling 2 MW of electricity generation at schools across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The arrays will cover eight acres and will provide electricity for North Caroline High School, Colonial Richardson Middle and High Schools and Greensboro Elementary School.

“We’re pleased to see such strong support from the Caroline County community as well as Washington Gas and Energy Systems as they prove themselves to be leaders in Maryland’s growing solar movement.”

The solar arrays will be the largest public school solar project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and will be owned and operated by Washington Gas and Energy Systems. Kenyon Energy developed and financed the systems, while REC Solar acted as the design build turnkey EPC provider. The completed systems, which include more than 8,200 ground-mounted panels, will provide enough power to reduce the schools’ electricity bills and allow them to lock in fixed rates of electricity for the lifetime of the system, which is typically more than 25 years.

In addition to providing affordable, clean energy to Caroline County schools, the solar arrays will help serve as an educational tool for students. Each school will be equipped with highly visible monitoring displays that give students access to real-time data from the systems, including energy production, emissions offsets and weather data. Other benefits to the Caroline County community include local job creation, with the projects fueling 83 jobs in installation, landscaping and construction.

The three arrays of 919 kW-DC (North Caroline High School and CCTC), 796 kW-DC (Colonel Richardson Middle and High Schools) and 315 kW-DC (Greensboro Elementary), combined will create a 2,030 kW-DC ground-mounted system. All together, these systems will offset over 12 million barrels of oil over their 25 year lifetime, the equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from over 1 million passenger vehicles or 1.3 coal fired power plants.

REC Solar aided in the research and implementation of various land development permitting requirements and policies within each local jurisdiction. This initial pre-development groundwork included the compilation of 18 agency and local jurisdiction approvals and permits. As a result, the solar arrays were completed on schedule and will soon begin producing clean, affordable electricity.

“These projects reflect innovative design and installation techniques that drive cost savings for schools and clean power for the community” said Maxwell Dworkin, Director of Commercial Business Development at REC Solar. “We’re pleased to see such strong support from the Caroline County community as well as Washington Gas and Energy Systems as they prove themselves to be leaders in Maryland’s growing solar movement.”

"We at Kenyon Energy look forward to working with Washington Gas and 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.

About REC Solar, Inc.

REC Solar, Inc., a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Corporation, is a national leader in solar electric system design and installation. Focused on making solar affordable and simple, REC Solar specializes in residential, business, government and utility projects, offering a local presence in all major solar markets in the U.S. By providing innovative products, efficient processes and integrated services, REC Solar is committed to delivering high-quality systems while lowering the cost of solar power for all. In 15 years of business, REC Solar has installed more than 8,000 systems nationwide in excess of 100 megawatts. For more, visit RECSolar.com or call (888) 657-6527.