Howard County Executive Ball Announces Howard County to become Maryland’s First Community Solar Developer

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.

To support these powerful projects, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has awarded the County with more than $4.427 million in grants. This includes $3.075 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program funding towards the Carrs Mill Landfill Community Solar project and $1.352 million in FY 2025 Solar Canopy & Dual Use Technology Grant Program for the four solar canopy projects. This funding builds upon the more than $6.3 million in grant funding the County has already received or is to receive from MEA to support building upgrades, geothermal heat pump system, creating a microgrid on the County's main government campus, and implementing electric idling technology in County ambulances and heavy trucks.

“Howard County has been a leader among local governments – both in Maryland and nationwide – in identifying ways to deploy clean energy to save residents money,” said Eric Coffman, Maryland Energy Administration’s Director of Energy Programs.  “The county’s commitment to advance long-term capital projects and identify emerging opportunities has been highly effective at cutting emissions and operating costs. MEA looks forward to the returns on our mutual investments in clean energy projects that control costs for residents and speed Maryland’s progress toward its climate goals.”

In August 2025, Ball announced the County, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), and Howard Community College (HCC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration between the three entities to strengthen local action on climate and sustainability. Under the impactful MOU, the County, HCPSS, and HCC advanced their first collaboration with the selection of a solar provider to develop a solar power purchase agreement (PPA). Through this PPA, a solar provider will, at its sole expense, furnish photovoltaic solar projects, including installing and maintaining solar panels on County, HCPSS, and HCC properties. 

Today, Ball shared the County has again partnered with HCPSS and HCC to develop a new, transformational joint, “whole-of-community" PPA, which was recently approved on March 25th and March 26th, respectively, by the HCC Board of Trustees and the HCPSS’s Board of Education. This new PPA has the capacity to produce another seven megawatts of clean electricity that will yield approximately $12 to $14 million in cost savings across all three institutions, all at no upfront expense to County taxpayers. Additionally, this PPA will further reduce greenhouse gas pollution as much as taking 33,300 gas-powered cars off the road.

This new PPA is now possible thanks to the passing of  Council Bill (CB) 19-2026 by the Howard County Council last night that approves this multiyear Renewable Energy PPA between the County, HCPSS, HCC, and CI Renewables HCPS, LLC. CB19-2026 allows for the purchase of electric power for a term of 25 years, with the option for renewals.

This solar PPA is the third launched by Ball’s administration. In 2020, Ball announced a solar PPA with KDC Solar, Inc. at no capital cost to the County and providing a total anticipated cost benefit of $30 million over the 25-year life of the contract. The largest solar PPA in Maryland, this agreement already generates a monumental 32,000,000 kilowatt-hours a year, which covers more than 50 percent of the County’s electricity usage and is the equivalent of taking 4,563 cars off the road. To date, this PPA has delivered 18 solar projects on County properties, including nine ground mounted arrays, seven rooftop solar systems, and two solar parking canopies.

Here’s what others had to say about today’s announcements:

• Tim Lattimer, Administrator, Office of Community Sustainability – “Harnessing the free, clean, and abundant power of the sun is the best way to secure Howard County’s energy future.  I am grateful for County Executive Ball’s steadfast vision and commitment on climate, as he has shown how local communities can lead the way toward energy independence and liberation.”
• Luke Smith, Senior Vice President of Development, CI Renewables – “We are excited to partner with Howard County, HCPSS and Howard Community College by delivering clean electricity at a significant savings at a point in time when rising electricity costs are affecting rate payers across Maryland. The timing and complexity of this agreement demonstrates CI Renewables’ continued investment in clean infrastructure amid an evolving policy landscape.”
• Ally Niphakis, Board Chair, Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association – “By moving forward with County-owned community solar, Howard County is stepping into new territory, and setting the pace for the rest of the state. Being the first jurisdiction in Maryland to take this on is no small thing. What makes community solar so important is that this project is going to be real savings to residents, especially low-to-moderate income households.”
• Stephanie Bosh, Senior Vice President of Communications at the Solar Energy Industries Association – “County Executive Ball and Howard County leaders are setting the standard for how, through collaboration, local governments can lower energy costs by investing in solar. As energy demand skyrockets, solar and storage will continue to be the most affordable and quickest to build option. We’re hopeful more local and state governments follow Howard County’s lead.”
• John Gardiner, Partner and Founder, Open Market Energy, LLC – “Howard County's commitment to sustainability, to community solar is setting a strong example for jurisdictions across Maryland. By expanding access to clean, affordable electricity to low to moderate income households, these projects turn policy into real, measurable impacts for residents."”
• Cherie Brooks President, CEO, & Co-founder, Power52 – “Solar isn’t just about clean energy; it’s about creating access. When we invest in solar, we have an opportunity to also invest in people, opening doors to careers, lowering energy costs, and building stronger, more equitable communities.”
• Tracy Broccolino, President, Community Action Council of Howard County – “Community solar is about more than energy. It is about access, affordability, and stability for hardworking families. These investments create real savings, giving households the financial breathing room they need to focus on long-term well-being.  Together, we are helping people, changing lives, and creating opportunity for families across our community.”
• John Miller, Vice President of Market Development, Chaberton Energy – “The future is bright in Howard County. The County continues to deliver win-win-win scenarios: supporting clean energy, facilitating economic development, and saving money.”

Since taking office in December 2018, Ball’s administration has been hard at work leading the way on energy independence, reducing the County’s greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing the “HOWARD COUNTY CLIMATE FORWARD: Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.” Projects and recognitions include:

• Passage of the County's transformative solar legislation that allows solar in all zones across the county, including on agriculturally preserved land;
• Invested nearly $3.5 million in environmental grants—from plastic waste reduction and stream cleanups to composting and restoration projects;
• Saved more than 1,300 trees from invasive plant species through Recreation & Parks' Tree Savers Program;
• Distributed more than 5,000 LED bulbs through the Office of Community Sustainability's LED Lightbulb Exchange Program, saving residents nearly $70,000 in electricity costs and reducing climate pollution;
• Swapped out 10,000 streetlight bulbs with energy-efficient LED's, cutting energy use by 2.5 million kilowatt-hour each year;
• Development of impactful environmental partnership with the Columbia Association to collaborate on climate and energy independence initiatives;
• Reduction of community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from 2005 baseline levels, showcasing the County is now more than a third of the way toward its 2030 goal of a 60 percent reduction in climate-warming emissions;
• Hosted “Maryland Climate Forward Forum,” bringing together more than 150 representative from across the Baltimore/Washington region to brainstorm ways to help drive Maryland forward on climate action; and
• Launch of County’s new “Solar Express” instant permitting process for residential rooftop solar and awarded SolSmart’s Platinum designation for its solar leadership.