Project Status and Details

Goal:
Install 6 megawatts of solar on County facilities by the end of 2017.
Progress:
Complete! Montgomery County has installed over 7.6 megawatts of solar on County facilities with more projects being explored.

Project Map

Click the yellow sun icon to learn more about each project.

Solar Project List

Address
22880 Whelan Lane, Boyds, MD 20841
Description
Three separate systems, including rooftop and ground mount systems, are being installed. The ground mount system is designed to compliment the existing landscape, allowing habitat to exist around it to support broader green space and water quality goals.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 8,616 solar panels installed
  • Power: 2,803 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 3,551,401 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 285 homes powered
  • 566 cars off the road
  • 68,497 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation - North Ground Mount
Real Time Energy Generation - South Ground Mount
Real Time Energy Generation - Rooftop
Address
201 Edison Park, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Description
The largest roof top system on County property provides energy for the offices and warehouse of the Department of Liquor Control.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 3,672 solar panels installed
  • Power: 1,120 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 1,462,362 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 118 homes powered
  • 233 cars off the road
  • 28,205 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton, MD 20906
Description
This car canopy system will be a first in the County. It will provide shade and weather protection for County residents using the facility while also generating clean, low-cost energy. The senior center, with its many meetings and events, is also a great location for solar energy education.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 1376 solar panels installed
  • Power: 351 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 440,520 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 35 homes powered
  • 70 cars off the road
  • 8,496 trees planted
++
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, MD 20855
Description
This is Montgomery County's first solar photovoltaic system, which began producing power in March 2011. It produces 30 percent of the facility’s energy needs and saves approximately $10,000 each year in energy costs. The project was made possible with a combination of grant funds and a power purchasing agreement, with no upfront costs to the County.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 1,248 solar panels installed
  • Power: 280 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 350,000 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 28 homes powered
  • 56 cars off the road
  • 6,751 trees planted
Address
18330 Montgomery Village Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Description
The solar panels on the library roof provide clean, low cost energy and an excellent educational opportunity for County residents. Library visitors interested in learning more about solar panels can take out books and other learning materials, in addition to accessing information through signage and public programming.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 720 solar panels installed
  • Power: 220 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 271,234 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 22 homes powered
  • 43 cars off the road
  • 5.231 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20878
Description
The solar panels on the library roof provide clean, low cost energy and an excellent educational opportunity for County residents. Library visitors interested in learning more about solar panels can take out books and other learning materials, in addition to accessing information through signage and public programming.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 288 solar panels installed
  • Power: 88 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 104,291 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 8 homes powered
  • 17 cars off the road
  • 2,011 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
16700 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855
Description
These solar panels provide lighting in the parking garage at EMTOC, the facility that provides refueling, cleaning, and maintenance services for the County’s buses and heavy equipment. Other green features include more than four acres of green (vegetated) roof to absorb and filter rain water and a water recycling system that reduces water use by 80 percent.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: TBD
  • Power: 74 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 93,758 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 8 homes powered
  • 15 cars off the road
  • 1,808 trees planted
Address
11315 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854
Description
The Potomac Community Recreation Center is a place where neighbors gather for social activities, sports, and fun. The solar panels on the roof generate clean energy, save the County money, and provide a great example to the community.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 180 solar panels installed
  • Power: 55 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 64,249 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 5 homes powered
  • 10 cars off the road
  • 1,239 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, MD 20874
Description
Solar panels on the roof of the Up-County Regional Services Center provide a great opportunity for public education of the 2,000 residents and employees who visit the center each day for training and other services. The daycare center on site provides opportunities for educating young children about solar.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 176 solar panels installed
  • Power: 54 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 68,148 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 6 homes powered
  • 11 cars off the road
  • 1,314 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
100 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850
Description
Solar panels on the roof of the Council Office Building provide a unique opportunity for promoting solar energy generation to residents, businesses, and partner groups attending public hearings and other Council events.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 102 solar panels installed
  • Power: 32 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 38,413 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 3 homes powered
  • 6 cars off the road
  • 741 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Description
The Jane Lawton Recreation Center is a place where neighbors gather for social activities, sports, and fun. This is the first recreation center in the County to go solar. The rooftop solar panels generate clean energy, save the County money, and provide a great example to the community.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 134 solar panels installed
  • Power: 41 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 42,919 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 3 homes powered
  • 7 cars off the road
  • 828 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Description
This roof top mount solar photovoltaic system at the Silver Spring Civic Building showcases the County's development of sustainable buildings in urban areas. The Civic Building hosts meetings and conferences throughout the year, providing opportunities to showcase the benefits of solar to diverse audiences.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 128 solar panels installed
  • Power: 39 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 45,485 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 4 homes powered
  • 7 cars off the road
  • 877 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
12100 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Description
This is the first fire station in the County to go solar and is a great example of how solar panels can be incorporated into buildings with a wide variety of uses.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 120 solar panels installed
  • Power: 37 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 40,554 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 3 homes powered
  • 7 cars off the road
  • 782 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
15910 Somerville Road, Rockville, MD 20855
Description
This solar roof mount system will be a learning tool for the pre-school students at this facility.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 102 solar panels installed
  • Power: 31 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 37,029 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 3 homes powered
  • 6 cars off the road
  • 714 trees planted
Real Time Energy Generation
Address
50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
Description
The Circuit Court's south tower demonstrates several green features, including solar panels and a green (vegetated) roof. The glass walled tower also makes excellent use of natural light.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: TBD
  • Power: 12 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 15,144 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 1 homes powered
  • 2 cars off the road
  • 292 trees planted
Address
100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Description
Canopy mounted solar panels were installed over the parking lot as a component of the microgrid at this site to provide renewable power both during normal operation and grid outages, during which the microgrid can operate in island mode. These photovoltaic panels reduce the County’s carbon foot print while providing shade and weather protection for those parking under the canopies. Excess solar power generated at this site will offset grid power used at other County sites through a net metering agreement with Pepco.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 7,287 solar panels installed
  • Power: 2510 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 3,305,808 kilowatt hours
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Equal To:
  • 266 homes powered
  • 527 cars off the road
  • 63,760 trees planted
Address
6001 Olney Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville, MD 20882
Description
The former landfill provides ample space for this large scale ground-mount solar energy system. Oaks Landfill, home to a diverse array of plants and wildlife, also generates electricity using methane gas naturally produced by the site.
Status
Under Construction
Characteristics
  • Size: TBD
  • Power: 5,338 kilowatts
  • Annual energy generation: 3,417,330 kilowatt hours
Oaks Landfill Project

Combined Heat and Power

Combined Heat and Power (CHP), sometimes referred to as cogeneration, helps stabilize the utility grid by generating electricity close to the site of use. These systems save energy by using the waste heat from on-site electricity generation to heat the building or to provide hot water. CHP installations help reduce the need for additional power plants and transmission lines. CHP can generate electricity cleanly and efficiently when powered with natural gas or renewable fuels.

Address
11651 Nebel Street, Rockville, MD 20852
Description
The heat and electricity generated by a natural gas microturbine are used on-site with an overall efficiency of 68% compared to 33% for the average large power plant. The continual electrical and hot water needs make this residential facility ideal for a combined heat and power system. This project was partially funded by the Maryland Smart Energy Communities Program.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 65 kilowatts
  • Type: Natural Gas Turbine Engine
Address
100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Description
The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generation unit at PSHQ is a component of the microgrid system which enables the facility to remain operational during major grid outages. The CHP along with the solar photovoltaic canopy system reduces the County’s carbon foot print, increasing the efficiency of heating and cooling while providing security of operations for the facility.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 880 kilowatts
  • Type: Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine
Address
22880 Whelan Lane, Boys, MD 20841
Description
The Combined heat and Power (CHP) system at the Correctional facility provides an added level of security to keep the community safe in times of major grid outages. The CHP provides base loaded power to the facility, also reducing the amount of power that is purchased from the local utility company and the facility’s carbon foot print. The CHP system also produces hot water used on site by the Correctional Facility.
Status
Complete
Characteristics
  • Size: 200 kilowatts
  • Type: Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine

Microgrids

Microgrids are small scale power grids that can operate independently of the local utility. Microgrids combine a variety of technologies such as solar, combined heat and power, batteries, and advanced controllers to allow self-sufficient operations. Microgrids improve the resiliency of buildings and campuses to utility interruption, help stabilize the overall grid by generating electricity during periods of peak demand, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The County has installed two microgrids at crucial public safety facilities and is exploring installation at additional sites.