Poolesville, Md.  – Town of Poolesville officials today celebrated the recent completion of a new solar array system at the Poolesville wastewater treatment plant, which makes the Town the only municipality in Montgomery County and one of the first three municipalities in Maryland with its own fully-operational source of renewable solar energy.

Developed through a public-private partnership between Poolesville, Standard Solar, Inc. and energy provider, UGI Corp., the energy-generating system comprised of nearly 4,500 solar panels promises to yield both reduced energy costs for the Town and innovative educational opportunities for local students studying environmental science.

“Poolesville is proud to be moving forward on the front of renewable energy,” said Jim Brown, President of the Poolesville Town Commission. “Our new solar array is not only a source of energy independence, but it also speaks to our commitment to environmental sustainability and to providing opportunities to educate our next generation on the importance of renewable energy sources.”

“The Town of Poolesville is among a select few forward-thinking municipalities in Maryland and throughout the U.S. that are taking steps toward a more sustainable future,” said Tony Clifford, CEO of Standard Solar. “We commend Poolesville for being proactive in demonstrating the value and benefits of solar power to its residents and future leaders.”

Last year, the Town entered into a 20-year agreement with UGI Corp., which sponsored the cost of installing the 4,480 solar panels, located at the wastewater treatment plant on Fisher Avenue in Poolesville. The total cost for installation was approximately $2.7 million.

Poolesville will still be served by Potomac Edison, but the solar panels will generate electricity to offset energy costs for the Town’s larger facilities. According to Poolesville officials, the new energy source is projected to save the Town up to $30,000 in its first year of operation.

Poolesville’s solar array project also has an educational component that will include learning tools tied into Poolesville High School’s environmental science magnet program.

Poolesville’s solar array project was made possible, in part, by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), which has created incentives and limited upfront costs for renewable energy systems through Solar Power Purchase Agreements (SPPA). These efforts were implemented in order to help the State of Maryland realize its Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of 20 percent renewable energy generation by 2022.

About the Town of Poolesville

The Town of Poolesville is a historic community incorporated by the state of Maryland in 1867 and situated in the northwestern part of Montgomery County, 33 miles from Washington, D.C. Poolesville is also conveniently located to Frederick, Gaithersburg and Rockville Maryland, as well as to Leesburg, Virginia.

About Standard Solar

Standard Solar, Inc. is a leader in the full-service development, construction, integration, financing and installation of solar electric systems. Dedicated to making solar solutions more accessible to businesses, institutions and governments, the company is leading the way to energy independence. Committed to offering responsible and energy cost-saving solar solutions that conform to the highest standards, Standard Solar is one of the most trusted and respected solar companies. Since 2004, Standard Solar has been the partner of choice to make solar energy financially accessible, helping customers through financing options, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and navigating expanded federal and state and local tax credits. The company’s Standard Energy Solutions (SES) division provides home energy solutions including home solar, energy efficiency and energy management services. Named one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for four consecutive years by Inc. Magazine, Standard Solar is headquartered in Rockville, MD. For more information, please visit http://www.standardsolar.com/.

PR Contacts:
For Poolesville:
Steve Simon
(301) 836-1516
ssimon@veandco.com

For Standard Solar:
Leah Wilkinson
WilkinsonShein
(703) 907-0010
leah@wilkinsonshein.com