by Shane Henson — November 14, 2012—Maryland’s Hagerstown Community College (HCC) and First Solar Inc., a global provider of fully integrated photovoltaic (PV) solar system solutions, have announced the start of collaborative initiatives for faculty and students in HCC’s Alternative Energy Technology Program to benefit from the construction and operation of the 20-megawatt Maryland Solar facility, a First Solar project that is currently under construction in Washington County.
Through Maryland Solar, First Solar has agreed to provide HCC and its students with site visits and internships at the new facility, as well as guest lectures and a digital “dashboard” at HCC’s recently opened Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Building so visitors on campus can get a first-hand view of operational data direct from the 160-acre solar farm.
Maryland Solar has also agreed to provide HCC with hundreds of its own solar panels, enabling the college to install and maintain a small, ground-mounted solar power plant as well as a roof-mounted PV system on its 65,000 sq. ft. STEM building. Working on the solar power plant will give students hands-on experience, and the donated solar panels will help offset electricity usage on the HCC campus.
The 20-megawatt Maryland Solar facility is expected to begin commercial operation in 2013, says First Solar.
