Solar celebrated at Delaware Tech
State and local officials recently celebrated the completion of Delaware Technical Community College’s statewide solar energy system at the college’s Charles L. Terry Campus in Dover. A solar carport array near the campus entrance off Scarborough Road is the last of nine projects to install solar arrays at all four Del Tech campuses, which includes solar carports, ground mounts and rooftop arrays.
“This partnership with Standard Solar and Urban Grid, combined with our other energy saving initiatives, has helped us exceed our goal of a 20 percent reduction in the college’s carbon footprint by 2020 three years ahead of schedule,” said Mark T. Brainard, president of Del Tech. “These arrays provide both economic and educational benefits for the college and our students.”
The solar arrays are expected to offset about 12 percent of the college’s annual energy needs. The statewide project is one of the largest solar systems in Delaware, and was funded as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Standard Solar.
“Delaware Tech sets an example for other institutions to follow,” Gov. John Carney said. “They are not only educating and training the future leaders in energy management and solar energy. They are providing inspiration to their students and the community by making these kinds of investments, which are both environmentally and fiscally responsible.”
The first phase of the project, completed in December 2013, included a solar carport and rooftop array at the Wilmington Campus, rooftop arrays at the Stanton and Dover campuses and ground mounted panels at the Georgetown campus. The recently completed second phase of the project included rooftop arrays at the Georgetown and Dover campuses the solar carport array at the Dover campus.
The completion of the solar array project demonstrates the college’s commitment to green energy and complements its energy management education and training programs statewide, a press release stated. The combination of the solar arrays, the work being done by campus energy task forces, the construction of about $7 million in energy conservation measures, and participation in the state aggregate power purchasing program has resulted in a 25 percent reduction in the college’s carbon footprint.
