Longwood Gardens is on its way
to energy independence, at least 70 percent independence.

The gardens held a commissioning
ceremony Thursday, flipping a ceremonial switch on a field of solar panels that
will, by the end of summer, provide Longwood with 28 percent of its electrical
needs.

Dignitaries, including state
Sen. Dominic Pileggi, were on hand Thursday when a bank of panels began
providing 1.2 megawatts of power. Another 0.3 megawatts will begin to flow by
the end of summer.

“There’s a goal to take
Longwood off the grid,” said Executive Director Paul Redman. “Actually, with
1.5 megs, it will briefly take us off the grid for moments during the day, but
when we hit three megs it’ll actually take us off the grid for hours during the
day during peak demand. That will supply close to 70 percent of our annual electrical
need.”

There is also an eye on
achieving 100 percent energy independence, but Redman said that would require
“a number of silver bullets.”

Redman said that would be good
for both Longwood and the community as a whole, and would be “a phenomenal
achievement.”

He said the project makes
financial sense, saving tens of thousands of dollars, but also shows that
“Longwood cares for the global garden.”

Instead of an asphalt or paved
field, the panels are in an open meadow. Redman said that, in itself, sends a
significant message.

“It’s in a beautiful Brandywine
Valley meadow.”

The solar field, with 6,669
panels, is in a 10-acre site on the south side of Route 1 adjacent to Greenwood
Elementary School and was designed for minimal disturbance and minimal grading,
according to Casey Sclar, the plant healthcare leader at Longwood.

He said the project is costing
more than $7 million, was done to maximize productivity, but, more importantly,
to “ensure the environmental quality of the site was maintained and enhanced.”

Longwood received $1.3 million
in grants from the federal government and is waiting to get another $500,000
from the state through Pileggi’s office.

The remaining funds are from
private sources, including from EcogySolar one of the partners in the project.

Ecogy’s managing partner, Ken
Becker, said the project represents “free minds looking at things in a
different way for the betterment of the country.”

In addition to saving money,
Longwood will also reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 1,236 tons annually.