Earlier today, we joined the Rock Hall Town Council, community stakeholders and partner officials, to dedicate the county’s newest aggregate, net-metered solar array on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Rock Hall solar array was installed by Standard Solar, Inc., and will be owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc.

“The Town of Rock Hall has embarked on a long-term renewable energy agreement that will produce significant financial savings, positively affecting the town’s fiscal budget, while exemplifying our stewardship towards a better environment,” said Rock Hall Mayor Robert Willis. “We look forward to a rewarding partnership with Washington Gas Energy Systems and Standard Solar for many years to come.”

The Rock Hall solar system is Kent County’s second solar project to make use of Maryland’s new aggregate, net-metering law that allows one solar system to serve facilities at various locations and the third large project Standard Solar has installed in the County.

Yesterday we were privileged to be a part of the dedication ceremony for the solar array Standard Solar recently completed in Worton, Maryland – one that sits at the forefront of solar in the state, as it is the first public sector project to take advantage of Maryland’s aggregate net-metering law that allows more than one facility to make use of the electricity generated by a single system. Kent County is truly leading the way for other communities to make use of large scale installations to power multiple buildings. In this case, the 1.5 MW system will serve Kent County High School, KCHS Radio Antenna, Worton Elementary School, the Kent County Community Center and the County Public Works Facility north of Chestertown.

On hand to dedicate the system and cut the ribbon (yes, we had giant scissors!) were county and state officials and a group of Kent County Parks and Recreation campers who had an opportunity to see the system up close and will further benefit from the system moving forward, as Kent County plans to incorporate the system into its science curriculum.

Developed with our partner Washington Gas Energy Systems, who will own and operate the system, this array is a shining example of community leaders’ foresight. Along with providing a large percentage of the power needed by the facilities mentioned above, the rate secured for the electricity through a power purchase agreement will save Kent County money on their utility costs. In addition, the array will serve as an educational tool for students as a real-world example of the promise of a clean energy future.

We’re saddling up (on a plane) to visit the high desert tomorrow, where the 1.5 MW solar electric system that we’ve partnered with Taos, NM-based Kit Carson Rural Electric Cooperative (KCEC) to build is well underway. We will be co-hosting a dedication ceremony for the array being installed on property owned by the Rio Costilla Cooperative Livestock Association (RCCLA) near Amalia, NM. Local, state and national government officials and many of our business partners will be on hand to help us celebrate this remarkable solar development.

The project is a 1.5 MW single-axis tracking solar electric system that will generate in excess of 2.9 million kWh of clean, renewable electricity annually, enough to power 376 average New Mexico homes for a year. A single-axis tracking array moves the solar panels throughout the day to ensure they are always absorbing as much of the sun’s energy as possible. The solar array, consisting of 5,280 panels, will also offset approximately 1,500 tons of greenhouse gases per year, the equivalent of planting a 221-acre forest. Washington Gas Energy Systems will own and operate the system.

We are really excited to see the progress being made on the system. When it’s complete later this spring, all of the businesses and homes of north central New Mexico will be solar powered on sunny days!