Catholic University has selected Standard Solar, a Rockville-based energy company, to install what will be among the region's largest solar arrays on its Brookland campus, the university said Thursday.
The 25-acre solar array will include panels six to eight feet tall and ground-mounted at an angle, located on an undeveloped portion of the university’s 41.4-acre west campus property, between Harewood Road and North Capitol Street NE, north of Michigan Ave. It is expected to produce about 10,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually, which the university would sell through the electric grid to D.C. residents, nonprofits and businesses.
“The west campus solar array will make a significant addition to Catholic University’s long-term commitment to sustainability,” John Garvey, the university’s president, said in a statement. “The clean energy generated through this program will contribute as well to the District’s goals for a healthy community and to the Vatican’s own initiative aimed at global sustainability.”
The partnership includes a ground lease for 15 years with the opportunity for renewal as well as an operating agreement, said university spokeswoman Susan Gibbs. The university declined to share the value of the contract or funding sources.
Construction will start in June and wrap up in spring 2023, the university said. The development team also includes Optony Inc., a Santa Clara, California-based consultant, and Jenner & Block LLP’s Energy Practice.
Catholic plans to open the solar array to local K-12 students to learn about sustainability on field trips and STEM projects, as well as to university students to conduct research with energy production data.
All of Catholic's energy is generated through renewable resources, including 2,700 solar panels already installed on campus, and the university has decreased carbon emissions on campus by 28% since 2016, the university said.
Dominion Energy this week earned approval from Virginia's State Corporation Commission to build a 100 megawatt solar farm across 1,200 acres on Dulles International Airport property.
