“Georgetown is pleased to be leading the first university solar electricity project of its scale on a historic residential block in Washington, D.C.,” said Robin Morey, vice president for planning and facilities management at the university. “This project serves as a strong symbol of Georgetown's commitment to sustainable buildings, and it demonstrates Georgetown’s local leadership as a partner in the Mayor’s College and University Sustainability Pledge by helping to advance the District’s goal to increase solar energy capacity.”

SolarCity expects the project to offset an average of approximately 40 percent of the electricity used in each townhouse, and provide up to $43,000 in savings to the student body government over the 20-year life of the power purchase agreement. These savings represent the difference between the cost of the solar power and the higher cost that the university would otherwise pay to its electricity provider for electricity in those residences.

“We’re excited to be helping a great university like Georgetown go solar and save money,” said Leon Keshishian, SolarCity’s Mid-Atlantic regional vice president. “As a Georgetown alum, I’m proud to be helping the school make smart energy decisions.”

The project represents Georgetown's first university-student partnership on a solar energy project. Students pay for the solar power produced by the arrays, while the university has provided the funding to bring the homes up to solar readiness by installing new, higher-amperage electrical panels. In addition, the university has contributed in-kind professional staff time for activities such as a preliminary feasibility analysis, soliciting and reviewing the vendor bids, and providing legal, financial, and architectural review.

For more information, visit www.solarcity.com.

Publication date: 4/22/2013