The University System of Maryland, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of General Services, will be purchasing 20 percent of the Roth Rock wind farm that’s owned by Gestamp Wind North America.

Delmarva Power, who began operating the Roth Rock wind farm under a 20-year power purchase earlier this month, will buy the remaining energy produced.

The 20 percent would amount to approximately 100,000 megawatt hours of annual energy, which is the amount of energy used by 10,000 households.

By partnering with the Maryland Energy Administration and other state agencies, universities across Maryland are taking a step toward clean energy.

In late 2009, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents approved four renewable energy projects to reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

According to University System of Maryland officials, the goal set by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Led by the University of Maryland, College Park, University System of Maryland institutions have made long-term power purchase contracts of these energy resources.

The most recent of these projects is the new wind farm in Western Maryland.