University-State Partnership to Promote Residential Electric Generation from Solar and Wind Energy in Western Maryland

A partnership program developed between Maryland Energy Administration and Frostburg State University is described. The main purpose of this partnership is to promote residential electric generation using solar and wind power in Western Maryland. Activities include construction of a grid-tied hybrid demonstration system, development of a knowledge base to assist the local community to develop their own generation systems, development of interdisciplinary curriculum for existing and new courses at FSU, dissemination of the results through outreach programs, and administration of the Maryland State Anemometer Loan Program. The initial reaction and input received from the FSU community and expected outcomes are discussed.