Governor O'Malley, President Loh, to Shine Light On Massive New UMD Solar Array

University of Maryland sustainability initiatives are garnering the university widespread recognition as a leader in campus sustainability -- recognition seen most recently in accolades from organizations such as the Sierra Club, the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, and the Princeton Review.

WHO: Speaking at the event (in reverse order of appearance) are: Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, University of Maryland President Wallace Loh, Mayor of College Park Andy Fellows, Washington Gas Energy Services President Harry Warren and Standard Solar CEO Tony Clifford.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Remarks will be in an event tent from 11 a.m. until about 11:40 a.m. Rooftop tours of the array will be offered before the presentations from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Following the end of the presentations, VIPs and press will tour the solar array, with additional tours offered until 1 p.m.

WHERE: The parking lot (remarks) and roof (tours) of the University of Maryland's Severn Building, 5245 Greenbelt Road, College Park, MD 20740. The building, which is undergoing interior renovations, is the former Washington Post printing plant and is located less than a mile from the main campus.

About the Severn Solar Array

UMD was selected as a Maryland Energy Administration Project Sunburst Initiative Partner and awarded a grant aimed at promoting the installation of renewable energy systems on public buildings in Maryland. Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. (WGES) financed the remainder of the project cost and UMD will purchase the electricity generated by the solar panels under a 20-year agreement with WGES. The 631 kilowatt system, which was installed by Standard Solar, Inc. of Rockville, Md., is owned and operated by WGES. It will produce about 792 megawatt hours of electricity each year. The array is constructed with 2,632 Suniva solar panels configured in 188 strings with 14 panels per string, installed using a Sunlink ballasted non penetrating racking system all tilted at 10 degrees.