Did you know that almost half the energy needed to power National Geographic Society headquarters now comes from solar energy? National Geographic is purchasing the renewable resource from Baker Point Solar, Cypress Creek Renewables’ first solar site in Maryland, a facility that also provides an important habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping to maintain a planet in balance.
Mike Ulica, the Society’s executive vice president, chief operating and financial officer, represented National Geographic at an inaugural site tour and ribbon cutting ceremony at Baker Point Solar last month. Located along Old Frederick Road in Thurmont, Maryland, Baker Point is the first solar array inspired by Maryland’s statewide legislation supporting pollinator-friendly solar sites. It is also host to more than 34,000 solar modules.
"The National Geographic Society empowers us all to generate solutions for a healthy and more sustainable future. That's why sourcing clean, solar energy for our headquarters makes perfect sense. In addition, solar provides an important habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping to maintain a planet in balance, which is something National Geographic works toward each and every day." Mike Ulica, executive vice president, chief operating and financial officer, National Geographic Society
In addition to producing clean, renewable energy (enough to power the equivalent of more than 2,000 homes), the Baker Point site includes four acres of pollinator-friendly habitat, with nine flowering plants and grasses that bloom continuously spring through fall. This native pollinator habitat provides critical pollen sources to the 25 on-site beehives and other native pollinators, such as butterflies.
National Geographic also has a long-standing commitment to pollinators. Its headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., has hosted bee hives since 2011.
Here are some amazing photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony as well as drone footage taken by Mark Thiessen, National Geographic photographer and lead bee keeper of the headquarter hives:
Learn more about National Geographic’s commitment to sustainability here.
Read the original article in National Geographic here.