News Story

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Howard County is the first jurisdiction in Maryland to become a community solar developer, bringing discounted solar electricity to low- and moderate-income households. Photos from the event can be found on Howard County Government’s Flickr website and video on the County Executive’s Facebook page.

In his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Budget unveiled this past week, Ball included $14 million to advance five County-owned community solar projects that will produce a combined total of about five megawatts of electricity. This includes a:

1. Ground-mount solar array at the former Carrs Mill Landfill in western Howard County;
2. Solar parking canopy at the County’s Ascend One Building in Columbia; and
3. Solar parking canopies at the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks’ Blandair Regional Park and Cedar Lane Park in Columbia and Troy Park in Elkridge.

“This is what’s possible when we work together with purpose and partnership. Solar energy is lowering costs, improving air quality, and expanding opportunity. With leadership from Governor Moore and County Executive Calvin Ball, we’re not waiting—we’re building the future together,” said Maryland Secretary of Environment Serena McIlwain.

When completed at the end of 2027, the County plans to make half of the power generated at the Carrs Mill Landfill project available for free to low-income households. The County will in turn sell the power generated by the four solar parking canopy sites at a 25 discount to low- and moderate-income subscribers. This will help more than 500 low- and moderate-income households to lower their electric utility costs.