ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Howard County, Maryland has been name Plug In America’s “2026 National Plug-In America Government Leadership Award” winner. Howard County Government was one of two Government Leadership winners nationwide, with New York Power Authority taking the other spot.
For the past eight years, we have worked tirelessly to make electric vehicle (EV) adoption more accessible and affordable. We have backed our commitments with concrete action. In 2019, we became Maryland’s first jurisdiction to require EV-ready wiring in new residential construction with driveways or garages. In 2026, we expanded requirements to new large commercial buildings, requiring chargers at 10 percent of parking spaces and wiring for future charging at another 10 percent. Preparing buildings during construction helps avoid more costly upgrades later down the line. This national honor reflects years of powerful partnerships and practical progress my administration has put forth. I am grateful for Plug In America’s recognition of Howard County’s strong commitment and progress toward making cleaner transportation more accessible throughout our community.
The County was recognized by Plug In America for its efforts to make EV adoption a critical component of its climate strategy. In 2023, Ball announced the release of the County's HoCo Climate Forward: Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (Climate Forward) report. As identified in the Climate Forward report, the transition to EVs is the single most impactful opportunity the county can take to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is Howard County’s largest source of climate pollution. Moreover, this investment would support the County’s ambitious goals of reducing emissions 60 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.
Since 2018, Howard County’s EV registration growth has outpaced Maryland’s statewide growth by 77 percent. The number of plug-in vehicles’ share of registrations Howard County has increased from 3.7 percent in December 2023 to six percent in August 2026.
In 2019, Howard County became the first Maryland jurisdiction to require that new homes be EV-ready, and in 2026 it extended charging requirements to new large commercial buildings.
To assist EV owners, Howard County is home to 138 public charging ports in locations throughout the county, including Howard County Library System branches, community centers, and 50+ centers. The County also has 93 ports dedicated to its own fleet, which includes 58 plug-in vehicles and 271 hybrids. In addition, County building requirements now include one charging station for every 25 units in new multifamily residential buildings.
Additionally, in December 2023, Ball announced his support of workplace electric vehicle (EV) charging as the first public official in Maryland to sign U.S. Department of Energy's “Charge@Work” pledge. Howard County was the first jurisdiction in the state and the 15th nationwide to endorse the workplace charging pledge. In signing the pledge, the County’s Green Fleet Policy now calls that every new administrative vehicle to be electric.
Additionally, beyond the County’s own operations, the County’s Office of Community Sustainability runs a Clean Miles Club, which connects local EV drivers with those who are curious about making the switch. The Club currently has nearly 170 members who can connect with experienced EV drivers or those who are considering making the switch through Howard County’s “Ask an EV Driver” webinars, meetups, and residents’ ownership stories.
Plug In America
Founded in 2008, Plug In America is a national nonprofit advancing electric vehicles through education, advocacy, and research. Its Drive Electric Awards began in 2018 and recognize people and organizations helping move the nation toward electric transportation. Award winners are selected by a committee of staff, board members, previous honorees, and EV industry leaders. This year’s awards featured 32 finalists across 11 categories.
To learn more about Plug In America, visit https://pluginamerica.org/.