Thousands Of Solar Panels To Power Most Of Anne Arundel County Public Works Site

MILLERSVILLE, MD — Anne Arundel County recently started erecting thousands of solar panels at a government complex in Millersville.

The 2,932 solar modules will go on top of buildings, sheds and carports at the Bureau of Utility Operations site. The panels will satisfy more than 90 percent of the facility's annual electricity needs.

Officials expect the panels to generate 1,645 megawatt-hours of clean electricity in their first year. That's enough to power an average home for nearly 154 years, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The panels will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,166 metric tons each year. That's like preventing the burning of 1.3 million pounds of coal.

The solar array will produce 1,600 Solar Renewable Energy Credits annually. These credits can be sold on the energy market and vary in value based on demand. The credits are currently selling for $59 each in Maryland.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works runs the Millersville complex, which delivers the county's drinking water and treats its wastewater.

The agency partially funded the panels with a $3 million Alternate Source of Energy Project Grant from the Maryland Department of Environment’s Energy Water Infrastructure Program. That grant will cover 73 percent of the $4.1 million effort.

"This project shows that saving tax-payer money and protecting the environment do not have to be mutually exclusive," County Executive Steuart Pittman said last Friday in a press release announcing the start of construction. "I am proud that Anne Arundel County is a leader in efforts to create affordable clean energy solutions where possible."