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2008 Solar America Showcases

In 2008, the U.S. Department (DOE) of Solar Energy Technologies Program provided free technical assistance to these large-scale solar installation projects through its Solar America Showcases activity.

Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut—The Mystic Seaport Museum is a village that includes four National Historic Landmark vessels, a working preservation shipyard, exhibition galleries, and a planetarium. The museum has an annual tourist population of about 300,000. The museum plans to install a 1-megawatt solar electric system on the roof of the Rossie Mill building, a historic building located within the museum village. Learning about the issues associated with installing PV on historic buildings will become part of the museum experience.

Solar Public Schools, Washington, D.C.—Three public schools in the District of Columbia will "showcase" solar electric systems on their buildings. Two schools will include a solar electric system of at least 150 kilowatts each: the H.D. Woodson Senior High School and the Alice Deal Middle School. The size of the solar electric system is yet to be determined at the third school building: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School Aquatic Center. Most of these schools are located in high-traffic areas and can serve as models for the entire school district.

Town Centers in Ohio, Virginia, and Texas (Steiner & Associates)—Steiner + Associates specializes in "green town center" projects and is installing 250 kilowatts total of solar electric systems on three town centers under development:

• Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio,
• Peninsula Town Center in Hampton, Virginia,
• Glorypark Town Center in Arlington, Texas.

All three sites will feature solar electric systems ranging from 50 to 100 kilowatts. The projects are all in highly visible locations with a wide cross section of corporate and retail tenants that draw millions of visitors each year.