UMES to develop solar farm on 20 acres

By Associated Press / UMES

PRINCESS ANNE, MD – (AP) The Board of Public Works has given its approval to a plan to develop a photo-voltaic solar farm on 20 acres of land on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

SunEdison will finance, build, operate and maintain the 2.1-megawatt system under a solar power service agreement.

It will be the largest renewable energy project in Maryland and will provide UMES with long-term predictably priced solar-generated energy. Under the terms of the agreement with SunEdison, the solar plant will not require an upfront capital investment by the University.

The zero-emissions system is expected to produce more than 64 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity over the life of the 20-year agreement. And according a press release from the University, the system will displace the more than 119 million pounds of greenhouse gases which would otherwise be emitted from a traditional power plant.

Construction of the UMES solar farm is scheduled to begin in early September - with anticipated completion by the end of 2009.