Md. Gov. wants renewable energy in schools

BALTIMORE, July 18 (UPI) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley unveiled his "Clean Energy Schools" program Monday.

He called for a renewable-energy project to be installed at a school in every Maryland county within the next year at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $97 million expansion of the BP Solar manufacturing facility Monday.

O'Malley said the program could potentially add up to about 60 kilowatts of renewable-energy generation and will educate children about renewable energy, the Daily Record reported. Wind power, biomass heating and solar energy will be the focus of the projects.

"It's hard to put a price tag on what that does to inspire the next generation to continue, if you will, the American revolution that we have an opportunity to advance in our own time," O'Malley said.

O'Malley's plan is that energy companies will partner with the schools to finance the projects. BP Solar already announced it would contribute $100,000 toward the program, including a solar installation at a Frederick County school. Grants and loans will most likely play a role in funding as well.

The school projects will probably cost between $10,000 and $20,000 each, said Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration.