Special to Dorchester Banner/Choptank Cooperative
Pictured are the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, staff, employees, and Standard Solar Representatives at the groundbreaking for Choptank Electric Cooperative’s solar project. Back Row from left: Todd Bireley, vice president of Engineering Services; Francis Callahan Jr., director of Caroline County; John Burke, director for Cecil County; Carl Widdowson, director of Somerset County; Robert Arnold, director of Queen Anne’s County; Douglas Scott, director of Dorchester County; Jeffrey Rathell Sr., director of Talbot County; David Bruning, director of Worcester County; Michael Hickson, legal council for the Choptank Electric Board; Robert Busler, director of Business Development for Standard Solar, Inc.; Lance Lockerman, vice president of Distribution Services, and Dr. Francis Ruffo, director of Ocean Pines. Front Row, from left: Robert Behlke, vice president of Member Affairs; Lisa DeSantis, vice president of Corporate Services; Joe Sise, senior regional service manager; David Lewis, manager of Regional Operations in Salisbury; Tony Clifford, chief development officer for Standard Solar, Inc.; Olin Davis, chairman of the Board and Director of Kent County; Matthew Holloway, Wicomico County; Cecil Criss, Senior Electrical Engineer; Michael Wheatley, CEO/president of Choptank Electric Cooperative.
[/caption] SALISBURY – Choptank Electric Cooperative hosted a groundbreaking for a new solar field being built by Standard Solar, Inc. at its Regional Service Center on Aug. 23. The 1,596 panel solar field will be built on 1.2 acres next to the Regional Service Center and is expected to cost $1.1 million. It is a 503 KW (kilowatts) system which will produce 706 MWh (megawatt hours) per year. That is enough electricity to power 53 residential homes for a year. The solar field is being built to provide electricity for the Regional Service Center. This and other energy efficient technologies will assist the Cooperative in achieving LEED Silver Certification for the building. Tony Clifford, chief development officer for Standard Solar, Inc., who was selected for the project, said, “We are pleased to partner with Choptank Electric Cooperative as they pursue clean energy to power their new facility.” This project is scheduled to be completed early 2017. Choptank Electric: Choptank Electric, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, is a not-for-profit, member-owned, electric distribution co-op located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore serving approximately 53,000 members. Standard Solar, Inc. is a leader in the full-service development, construction, integration, financing and installation of solar electric systems.