December 23, 2014 Columbia Association (CA) has taken a significant stride in using clean energy and reducing its carbon footprint by partnering with BITHENERGY and SunEdison on a cutting-edge project. Each year for the next 20 years, CA will be purchasing 2,500 megawatt-hours of solar electricity generated from approximately 2 megawatts of a new 10-megawatt solar farm being built off Route 32 near Interstate 70, in western Howard County. This 2-megawatt portion of the farm is a total of 12 acres, equivalent to nine football fields of solar panels. The energy produced will provide enough clean, renewable power to meet the needs of two of CA’s fitness facilities – Columbia Athletic Club and Columbia Gym – the equivalent of nearly 25% of CA’s total electricity consumption each year. The project also will eliminate about 1,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions associated with CA’s operations. “We are delighted that the Columbia Association will benefit from the clean, renewable energy that will be generated from our 10-megawatt solar power plant that is being built in Howard County,” said Robert Wallace, president and CEO of BITHENERGY. “Our engineering staff has worked diligently over the last few years to make the Nixon Solar Farm a model solar energy project that simplifies the process by which governments, nonprofits and commercial businesses seamlessly benefit from robust renewable energy options. Once completed, the Nixon Solar Farm will be the largest solar power plant in Howard County and one of the largest in the state of Maryland.” A video about CA’s solar farm project can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=adbAYx58shg.
