HILLSBORO, Ore. — SolarWorld announced that it has provided 1.6 megawatts of 315-watt, 72-cell monocrystalline solar panels for a project to power the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) George Washington Carver Center. The four-building office campus houses many members of the federal department’s headquarters staff, including its Agricultural Research Service. The ground-mount system located on 10 acres at the facility in Beltsville, Maryland, is believed to be the largest solar power system in the Washington, District of Columbia, area.

The system was commissioned in a ceremony featuring remarks by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

SolarWorld said the installation is the latest in a series of systems utilizing its solar panels that have powered agricultural concerns, ranging from West Coast vineyards to Wisconsin filbert farms to Vermont apple orchards as well as farm-oriented group-buy programs.

Amber Enterprises Inc., a minority-owned firm, undertook engineering, procurement, and construction of the Carver Center system.

“Whenever we supply a project to support agriculture, we feel kinship with American farmers, who, like us, are constantly honing their technologies for the future,” said Ardes Johnson, U.S. vice president of sales and marketing for SolarWorld. “We’re proud that our solar panels will help power the primary agency charged with supporting and developing this staple U.S. industry and employer.”

For more information, visit www.solarworld-usa.com.

Publication date: 5/4/2015

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