Publication Date: July 11, 2012
Recognizing the potential for collaboration, DVIRC set up a meeting with Rhoads and USGE at Rhoads’ Navy Yard offices. Meeting participants included Bill Annechini and Dan Rhoads of Rhoads Industries, Bob Ferrucci and George Peterson of USGE, and Bill Lauer and Sharon Ross, EEB Hub Project Lead for DVIRC.
In addition to exploring the technology and possible use of the Rhoads roof, USGE also discussed their need for manufacturing space. Rhoads indicated that they had excess capacity in one of their Navy Yard buildings. The preliminary agreement discussed between USGE and Rhoads would allow USGE to put a new roof on one of Rhoads’ buildings, and manufacture solar roofs in Rhoads’ building. USGE estimates that it would create about 20 new manufacturing jobs at the Navy Yard.
USGE also noted that they contracted for further technical work on their product with Dr. Corey Dickens, Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University, a EEB Hub performer. The project would examine thermodynamics of the roof and the trial of a new design of fiberglass base material to reduce weight and improve attachment. USGE has completed an MOU with Morgan State to pursue research funding, and assigned Dunston Donzell as project manager to continue thermodynamic design work.
Consortium Member(s): Ben Franklin Technology Partners of SE PA (BFTP),Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC),The Pennsylvania State University
Project contact: CBEI