Most Recent Recipient:
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD

With a solar energy field up and running and wind power projects in the works, UMES has become a pioneer for alternative energy on the Delmarva Peninsula.

(Princess Anne, MD)  In the spring of 2011 the University of Maryland Eastern Shore celebrated the unveiling of a 2.2 megawatt solar-energy facility that is now being used to help power the campus.  The impressive energy grid spans 17 acres and is comprised of 7,800 collection panels, making it the largest concentration of photovoltaic modules on one site in the state of Maryland, and among the nation’s largest on a university or college campus. 

In 2007 rising energy prices led the university to seek out ways to cut expenses rather than passing the cost onto students.  That search led to a partnership with SunEdison, a private-sector company who designed, constructed and financed the solar farm at no expense to UMES.  In return the university agreed to purchase power from the solar grid at a reduced-fixed rate for the next twenty years.  By all accounts this is a win-win for UMES as it cut the university’s power costs while also exposing students and area businesses to cutting-edge technology. 

Early energy production suggests the solar farm is capable of generating up to 15% of the monthly electricity needs on campus.  SunEdison projects the solar panels to produce more than 3.4 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year and a grand total of 62 million kilowatt hours (kWh) over the 20 year contract.  That is enough energy to power 5,800 average US homes for one year.  From a clean air perspective it also equates to offsetting over 122 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the 20 year period, which is the equivalent of taking 11,900 cars off the road for an entire year.

According to Dr. Ron Forsythe, Vice President for UMES’ Division of Technology and Commercialization, the solar farm is just the first step toward the university’s future in clean and renewable energy.  He hopes it will inspire future economic development for the campus and in local community, which is one of the university's missions as a land-grant institution.  This hope appears to be well on its way to becoming a reality.

In the fall of 2011 the Maryland Hawk Corporation, (a non-profit affiliate of the university) and National Renewable Solutions LLC of Minneapolis, Min. announced a partnership which created Eastern Shore Energy LLC, whose focus will be on creating renewable energy projects on the Delmarva Peninsula by harnessing wind, solar and biomass energy.

“Seventeen acres of power and a university that’s lit up with miles of environmental ideas is more than enough to spark a community to celebrate cost-saving achievement and to recognize that their State University is producing high level thinkers and doers. But that’s not the finish line for Dr Ron Forsythe and his students and staff. They are on a new path to introduce power and its money saving, money making capabilities to the entire Delmarva farming, business, educational and residential communities.

They think like winners on this campus when it comes to technology and its newest capabilities and possibilities not yet discovered, to make life better physically and financially for the people living, working and playing on the land we call home.

Seventeen acres of solar panels, thousands of hours of power and a future filled with a variety of educational discoveries are on the drawing boards for Ron Forsythe, Delmarva and their believers.” -  Roger Marino, Corporate Communications and Community Relations Director, Mountaire Farms.

For their efforts in the solar energy field and the clear vision of the future that WMDT and Mountaire Farms honored the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with the WMDT/Mountaire Environmental Star Award in January 2012.



If you know someone who is making an environmental impact and you would like to see them as next months Environmental Star call Roger Marino at 302-934-3123...To view previous winners click here.

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Environmental Star Program Details:

For many years Mountaire Farms has been among the industry leaders in best management practices, farm management, innovation on the farms as well as in the processing plants, and many other environmentally sensitive off-farm agricultural related practices. So it was natural fit for Mountaire to create a program in order to publically recognize the environmental excellence and creativity of individuals and organizations in the community that demonstrated their positive impacts on the environment.                                                                                       

The WMDT/Mountaire Farms Environmental Star Award was developled to encourage organizations, schools and individuals on the Delmarva Peninsula to THINK GREEN and take initiatives which are more Eco friendly. It is our hope that many will take on this challenge and inform us of their environmental endeavors so that we may recognize and honor those in the local community who are doing their part to make a difference. By promoting the good deeds of others we hope to further the GREEN efforts of all.

Each month WMDT (Channel 47) and MOUNTAIRE will determine, from the written entrants, the award winning individual, classroom or organization for outstanding contribution to the advancement, promotion, awareness and improvement of our environment. The awards will include an acrylic engraved table-top trophy; 21 promotional television commercial spots; 8 televised newscasts; 30 days of exposure on the WMDT Station’s and the Mountaire Web pages.
Entries will be accepted year round and should contain the following submission:
 
To qualify or nominate a person or organization, send a letter to me at the address below; or email rmarino@mountaire.com. Please include the following information:

   -  Name of the person or organization
   -  Name and address and contact numbers  (phone, email address, postal address)
   - Environmental accomplishments.

 Roger Marino
Corporate Community Relations Director
Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc
29106 John J. Williams Hwy
Millsboro, DE  19966