Media Contacts:

Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc.
Lauren Belisle, 703-739-2424 x 111
lbelisle@brightlinestrategies.com        

WashingtonSuburban Sanitary Commission
Jerry Irvine, 240-461-8680
jirvine@wsscwater.com

Standard Solar
Keira Shein, 410-363-9494
keira@wilkinsonshein.com

 

(Upper Marlboro and Germantown – November 6, 2013: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) unveiled two fields of solar panels today, which will provide power to two of its wastewater treatment plants. The two 2-megawatt (MW) ground-mounted installations, each with nearly 8,500 solar panels spanning several acres, are located at the Western Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Upper Marlboro, Md., and the Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant in Germantown, Md. Both facilities are the result of a public-private partnership with Washington Gas Energy Systems and Standard Solar, Inc.

“This project is good for the environment, our bottom line and our ratepayers,” said Jerry Johnson, WSSC’s General Manager and CEO. “Being good environmental stewards is core to our mission. We are pleased to add solar power to our array of energy efficient approaches to water and wastewater treatment, and we will continue to stay at the forefront of alternative energy and environmentally sound business practices. It’s the right thing to do.”

Washington Gas Energy Systems will own and operate the solar installations under a 20-year power purchasing agreement. Standard Solar designed and installed the systems at the wastewater treatment plants, which clean and treat used water and sewage and safely return clean water to the environment. Together, the solar arrays at the two plants are expected to generate approximately 6.6 million kWh of solar energy each year. Solar power will provide 12 to 21 percent of the electricity required to operate the two plants, saving ratepayers approximately $3.5 million over the life of the agreement. The systems are also expected to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to avoiding the use of approximately 358,680 gallons of gasoline each year.

“This public-private partnership with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission will improve our environment not only by ensuring the cleanliness of local waters, but also by generating emissions-free solar energy to run operations,” said Sanjiv Mahan, vice president of business development for Washington Gas Energy Systems. “We are confident that companies and organizations throughout Maryland will continue to embrace solar energy as we continue to expand our portfolio within the state.”

Working together, Washington Gas Energy Systems and Standard Solar have enabled more than 11MW of solar power with multiple solar systems throughout Maryland. Washington Gas Energy Systems owns and operates several renewable energy systems throughout Maryland, including solar installations in schools and community centers in Kent and Montgomery Counties, one of the East Coast’s largest solar installations at Perdue facilities in Salisbury, Md. and a solar project at the University of Maryland College Park.

“We are excited to celebrate the completion of WSSC’s two systems, adding 5MW of solar capacity to Maryland,” said Scott Wiater, president of Standard Solar. “These installations mark another significant chapter in WSSC’s sustainability story and benchmark toward Maryland’s energy independence. Public-private partnerships such as this not only strengthen the state’s infrastructure but also make Maryland one of the top solar energy states in the nation.”

About Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission:

In addition to solar power, WSSC buys wind energy that provides about 28 percent of the utility’s total power consumption and is always exploring ways to expand its use of alternative. Established in 1918, today WSSC is among the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, with a network of nearly 5,600 miles of fresh water pipeline and more than 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Serving 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, WSSC drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards. For more information, visit www.wsscwater.com.

 

About Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc.:

Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., an affiliate of Washington Gas Light Company and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL), design-builds and owns custom energy solutions that deliver financial, operational and carbon reduction results for non-residential customers across the United States. Washington Gas Energy Systems is focused on federal energy efficiency projects and commercial distributed generation assets including solar. Washington Gas Energy Systems currently holds over 55 MW of commercial-scale solar projects throughout the U.S. in 11 different states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Mexico.  For more information on how Washington Gas Energy Systems can make solar power a reality for you, contact Nate Greenberg, 703-333-3929, or email nategreenberg@wges.com. For further information about Washington Gas Energy Systems, please visit www.wgesystems.com.

 

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 www.standardsolar.com.

 

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