County Executive Announces New Clean Energy Project

County to Install Solar Canopy, EV Charging Stations at Bourne Building

FREDERICK, Md. – To mark Earth Day, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner today announced an innovative clean energy project at a county-owned facility. A solar canopy will be constructed over a parking lot at the Bourne Building on Montevue Lane, and four charging stations for electric vehicles will be installed at the site. A solar canopy is a series of solar panels that are elevated to provide shade. Cars parked beneath the canopy are protected from snow and sun. The panels generate clean, renewable energy. Once completed, the Bourne canopy will generate 75 kilowatts of electricity, enough to reduce electricity costs at the building by 15% to 20%. 

“The solar canopy is a great example of how we save green by going green,” Executive Gardner said. “By reducing electricity and fuel costs, taxpayers save money and protect our limited resources.”

The Bourne Building houses offices for the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Divisions. Initial plans call for two sets of panels to be erected in the parking lot on the north side of the building. Each structure will house 84 solar panels, for a total of 168 panels. Design work begins this month. The project will go out for bids later this year, with construction expected to begin next spring.

Executive Gardner also announced an agreement with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that will support Frederick County with several studies over the coming years. The first study is an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the County’s internal operations. The second study will look at electric vehicles, to determine what portion of the County’s fleet can be converted from gas or diesel to electric. 

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