Md. Governor Wants Renewable Energy Projects in Every County

Jul 17 - The Daily Record (Baltimore)

Gov. Martin O'Malley wants to install a renewable energy project at a school in every Maryland county within the next year, he said Monday.

O'Malley unveiled a "Clean Energy Schools" program at a groundbreaking ceremony for a $97 million expansion of the BP Solar manufacturing facility. He said the program, which could add up to about 60 kilowatts of generation, will help draw youthful interest toward renewable energy development, an industry that he sees as key to Maryland's economy.

"It's hard to put a price tag on what that does to inspire the next generation to continue, if you will, the American revolution that we have an opportunity to advance in our own time," O'Malley said.

The renewable energy improvements to schools will be paid for in partnership with energy companies, including BP Solar, which announced that it would contribute $100,000 toward the program. Part of that money will pay for a solar installation at a Frederick County school that officials did not identify.

The solar school projects will also likely be aided by grants and loans available for non-residential projects through the Maryland Energy Administration, said Director Malcolm D. Woolf. He said the projects would probably cost somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 apiece. The state is considering wind generation and biomass heating as well as solar.

In an interview, Woolf said the projects would mostly be small- scale, intended to help demonstrate the workings of renewable projects for students. He raised the possibility of additional state or local support for the program.

Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley, R-Carroll and Frederick, said he does not want to see money used for solar panels on schools that could go toward other uses, like school building construction or solar grants for commercial properties.

"If they're going to take them from those grants, they're going to take them away from the commercial sector," he said.

A number of schools in the state, including Takoma Park Middle School, have installed small renewable projects to aid in education. The Virginia-based nonprofit Solar Schools Foundation Inc. has worked on some of those projects with BP Solar. President Brian Gallagher said the foundation would be willing work with the state on projects as well.

Many at the groundbreaking ceremony said the state is in a strong position to take advantage of a growing market for renewable sources of power. A new set of incentives for solar development passed the General Assembly this year, which state officials hope will lead to the development of about 1,500 megawatts of solar generation in the state. (A megawatt is enough to power roughly 1,000 homes.) A move to ease the regulatory burden on wind energy developers also became law this year.

"Solar energy; it's clean, abundant and local," said Del. C. Sue Hecht, D-Frederick, who advocated in the House for the passage of the solar bill, SB 595. "You don't have to import Maryland sunshine."