Bowie State University, the historically Black educational institution in Maryland, announced that it would be installing a large-scale solar panel system on campus this fall. Though a partnership with WGL Energy, made possible by a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration, the university will add a solar canopy over a parking lot, put panels in a vacant field, and add solar panels on the roof of the library and the roof of the physical education complex.
The new 1.6 megawatt solar system is expected to generate about two million kilowatt hours of electricity. This will supply about 10 percent of the university’s electricity needs.
Michael Harris, capital project manager at Bowie State University, stated that “alternative energy is important for the university because a project like this reduces our carbon footprint. It’s the right thing to do as responsible citizens of the community. It can also be an educational tool for the students.”
