Georgetown 'Solar Street' Retrofits Historic Townhouses with Solar Power

The White House recognized the efforts of a student-staff partnership at Georgetown University for expanding clean energy usage through the Georgetown Energy’s Solar Street.

Six historic row houses have been retrofitted with 75 solar electricity panels through an agreement with clean energy provider SolarCity. According to the company, the panels could produce enough power to replace approximately 40 percent of the electricity used in each townhouse on average. Over the life of the 20-year power purchase agreement, that could add up to $43,000 in savings.

Georgetown hosted a ribbon-cutting for the Solar Street this week.

Gary Guzy, deputy director and general counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, praised the university community for its innovation and investment.

"Georgetown is becoming a model for how universities across the country are seeing clean energy, how you’re recognizing that sustainability can enhance the quality of community life, how it can save money, how it can be consistent with the university’s educational and research mission ...” said Guzy, who has taught at the university's Law Center, in a press release.

After more than two years of working with the university to get approval and funding for the project, Georgetown Energy had its Solar Street's panels installed beginning in December and finished in March, according to a press release. 

“We just wanted to help people in Georgetown go solar,” said Dan Mathis, one of the student project leaders for Georgetown Energy’s Solar Street, in a press release.

Together, the six households are expected to generate 20,000 kilowatts of electricity each year, reducing other energy usage and costs.

"This project serves as a strong symbol of Georgetown's commitment to sustainable buildings, and it demonstrates Georgetown's local leadership as a partner in the Mayor's College and University Sustainability Pledge by helping to advance the District's goal to increase solar energy capacity," Robin Morey, vice president for planning and facilities management, said in a press release.