Constellation Energy Installs 450-kW System for Massachusetts Schools

Constellation Energy, a business unit of Exelon, and the town of Swampscott, Mass., today announced the completion of an aggregate 450-kW (DC) solar generation project at Swampscott Middle School and Swampscott High School.

“Hosting on-site solar generation is an option for many customers to keep electricity prices affordable without a huge upfront capital investment. We look forward to working with the town of Swampscott to help maximize energy savings and in supporting its commitment to renewable energy now and in the future.”

Baltimore-based Constellation Energy owns and will maintain the solar power systems. In return, the town will purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from Constellation Energy under a 20-year solar services agreement.

In honor of the solar generation project’s completion, a celebration and ribbon-cutting were held today at Swampscott High School. On hand were students and representatives from the Swampscott School District, Constellation Energy and elected officials, including Swampscott Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Richard Malagrifa.

“Hosting solar generation is part of the school district’s clean energy initiatives and supports Swampscott’s long term goal to reduce overall energy costs 20 percent by 2015,” said Swampscott interim town administrator Dave Castellarin. “The solar power systems will supply an estimated 19 percent of the school district’s electricity needs annually and help to maintain stable electricity costs over the long term.”

“As an energy supplier, Constellation Energy is always looking at ways of helping our customers to better manage the price and amount of power that they use,” said Michael D. Smith, vice president of solar and efficiency sales for Constellation Energy. “Hosting on-site solar generation is an option for many customers to keep electricity prices affordable without a huge upfront capital investment. We look forward to working with the town of Swampscott to help maximize energy savings and in supporting its commitment to renewable energy now and in the future.”

The solar generation project is comprised of approximately 1,960 rooftop PV panels – 383 kW installed at Swampscott High School and 67 kW installed at Swampscott Middle School. Together the solar power systems are expected generate more than 10 million kWh of electricity over the next 20 years. Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of more than 5,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide or the equivalent emissions from 1,138 passenger vehicles according to U.S. EPA data.

Students and staff can monitor the amount of electricity supplied by the solar power systems via the school district’s website, as well as generation totals by week, month or year. Click here to view solar generation data for Swampscott Middle School and here to view solar generation data for Swampscott High School.

Constellation Energy currently owns and operates more than 100 MW of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for commercial and government customers throughout the United States. By structuring its solar projects as power purchase agreements or solar services agreements, Constellation Energy requires no upfront capital from its customers and is able to provide power at a fixed cost that is less than projected market rates.