Washington and Lee University (W&L) in Lexington, Va., has commissioned what system installer Southern Energy Management says is the largest solar project in Virginia.
The project comprises two PV arrays: a 325 kW installation of 1,016 SunPower solar PV panels on the roof of Lewis Hall, and a 119 kW installation of 540 Sanyo solar PV panels on a custom-designed steel canopy over the university's parking deck.
The university is leasing the system from Secure Futures LLC, a solar energy development company based in Staunton, Va., which owns and operates the panels through its subsidiary, Lexington Solar. W&L entered into a 20-year lease agreement with Lexington Solar, spreading the cost of the project over a longer period and reducing initial up-front cost.
Southern Energy Management, an energy efficiency and solar power company based in North Carolina, installed and maintains the Lewis Hall PV system for Lexington Solar. Standard Solar Inc., based in Maryland installed, and will maintain the parking deck installation.
