Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 7, 2024

Loyola University Maryland, Church Adds Solar

Loyola University Maryland and St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church are adding solar power via an innovative project in Maryland.

The solar project is located on a 19-acre site named Project Catherine at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church's property in Cooksville, Howard County, Maryland. A portion of the project supplies energy directly to the church. The rest of the project serves Loyola University Maryland and the surrounding community via a subscription model.

Project Catherine will provide a total of 4.3 megawatts of direct current (MWdc). Community solar subscribers will have access to 3.4 MWdc of capacity via the Maryland Community Solar program. Loyola will have access to 750 kilowatts of direct current (kWdc) under a renewable energy purchase agreement via the Maryland Aggregate Net Energy Metering program and the balance will be used to offset the church's on-site load.

Chaberton Energy, a Maryland-based solar developer, and Pivot Energy, a national renewable energy owner and operator, announced the launch of the project. 

The sites were originally developed by Chaberton and recently acquired by Pivot.

"Project Catherine helps leading institutions within the community gain access to clean, affordable, local energy," said Brit Gibson, chief operating officer at Pivot Energy in a statement. "Our partnership with Chaberton and the willingness of St. Mary Church and Loyola University of Maryland to think outside the box made it possible to build this unique solar project."

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