The Catholic University of America announced on Wedneday, Oct. 21, that it is creating the largest solar-energy system in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area with the installation of more than 1,000 solar panels. More than a dozen media outlets picked up the story, including The Washington Post , Washington Business Journal , Associated Press, Reuters, WTOP Radio, NBC 4, MSN and Fox Business. The Washington Post story can be read below.

Catholic U. getting solar energy system

From: The Washington Post By: Daniel de Vise Date: Oct. 22, 2009More than 1,000 solar panels will be installed on four Catholic University buildings this fall, creating the largest solar energy system in the Washington area, officials said Wednesday.

The school has signed a 20-year agreement with Washington Gas Energy Services to buy the solar energy. Next month, a Gaithersburg contractor will install 1,088 3-by-6-foot solar panels on the roofs of the Raymond A. DuFour Center and Aquinas, Flather and Gibbons halls, university officials said.

The system will be installed at no cost to the university and will be owned by Washington Gas. It is expected to produce 340,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, or roughly three-quarters of 1 percent of the university's energy needs. The energy will be used in the buildings where the panels are located.

Installation is due to be completed by the end of the year.