Dec 16 2009
Bullis School dedicated the largest solar electric power system at a ceremony held at a private school in the DC area. Students, school administrators, federal and state legislators attended the ceremony. This system is owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES). The solar system was installed by Clean Currents Solar and it will provide electricity to Bullis School’s Blair Family Center for the Arts.
The capacity of the system is 111 kW and consists of 540 solar panels. It is capable of generating 143,000 kWh of electricity per annum and Blair Family Center will draw about 18 to 20% of its electricity needs from the solar power system. WGES had financed the cost of the system under a three-way agreement. WGES will receive payment from Bullis School for the power generated in the system for a period of 20 years.
Tom Farquhar, Head of School at Bullis, said that the school is delighted to be initiating the use of renewable energy in such a large scale among independent schools in the DC area. The installation of this system establishes the school’s commitment to sustainable energy sources and also encourages communities and students to adopt a sustainable future.
Clean Currents Solar, which had installed the solar panels in the school, is helping to establish an environmental science unit that will show the students how to reduce their carbon footprint. It will also impart education on clean energy to the students. Students, teachers, and visitors can measure the power output from the solar system through a monitoring system.
President of Clean Currents Solar, Lee Keshishian, said that the company is delighted to partner with Bullis School and added that the school’s commitment to environment will encourage other area residential communities and businesses to adopt renewable energy strategies.
Bullis School is helping Maryland to achieve its 2010 solar goal by installing this system. Harry Warren, President of WGES, said that the state has a set goal that by 2022 solar energy should contribute 2% of all energy consumed by the state.
Source: http://www.bullis.org