Constellation and Henderson-Hopkins Complete Construction of 178-Kilowatt Solar Generation Project
Constellation and Elmer A. Henderson: A Johns Hopkins Partnership School (Henderson-Hopkins), a K-8 Baltimore City public school operated by the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, today announced the completion of a 178-kilowatt (DC) solar generation project The project is the second and largest solar generation project to be unveiled at a Baltimore City school.
“Henderson-Hopkins pursues the most contemporary, effective approaches to educating our students, so it is only fitting that we would take the same approach to powering our building,” said Katrina Foster, the school’s principal. “The new solar power system will help us share the importance of sustainability with our community and serve as an educational resource for our students to learn about renewable energy.”
The project required no upfront capital from Henderson-Hopkins. Constellation financed the project’s development and owns and operates the solar power system including the solar renewable energy credits. Henderson-Hopkins will receive the electricity generated by the solar panels through a 15-year power purchase agreement with Constellation.
“Renewable energy is a key part of our energy future, and this installation will help students to develop an understanding of how it is generated,” said Andy Frank, special adviser to the president on economic development for Johns Hopkins University and member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. “Henderson-Hopkins will also see a significant, long-term reduction in expected energy costs.”
The project expands Constellation’s role as the No. 1 solar energy producer in Maryland. To date, the company has completed more than 60 megawatts of solar projects in the state.
“Constellation is committed to advancing renewable energy initiatives in Maryland, and particularly in our hometown of Baltimore,” said Gary Fromer, senior vice president of distributed energy for Constellation. “Through this collaborative project, we are helping to support Henderson-Hopkins’ commitment to the environment and manage its energy costs, as well as demonstrate the economic and educational opportunity that renewable energy provides.”
The project will offer real-time data monitoring capabilities that will be integrated into the school curriculum to help students learn how solar electricity works and about the benefits of renewable energy. Students will be able to observe how solar energy is used to deliver electricity to their school, and be introduced to potential careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
Job trainees from the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) shadowed solar installers during the construction of the project and were provided an overview of career opportunities in the solar industry. Trainees interested in pursuing further solar job training were invited to enroll in the Civic Works Solar Job Training Program, which provides certification opportunities and pathways to paid internships.
The solar installation is composed of approximately 616 photovoltaic panels that cover approximately 10 percent of the building’s roof and provide shade to 29 parking spaces. The solar facility is expected to generate approximately 230,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year. Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of approximately 350,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 34 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data for the region.
Constellation currently owns and operates more than 250 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for commercial and government customers throughout the United States. These solar projects, combined with other forms of clean, on-site power supply such as biomass and co-generation, mean that Constellation has a total of 350 megawatts of distributed generation projects completed or under development for customers.
