Unused land can be seen as eyesores in communities across the country, but some cities are finding clever solutions. Baltimore County transformed a 213-acre site from an underutilized asset into a productive resource.
The County installed four large-scale solar arrays at its closed Parkton Landfill. The 7-MW system includes 15,000 ballasted, ground-mounted photovoltaic panels that are expected to produce 8,220,710 kWh in its first year. That’s enough solar generation to reduce the equivalent GHG emissions of 621,480 gallons of gasoline consumed.
The County expects to generate an equivalent of 55% of its electricity production from renewable power by 2028. Its solar progress reflects how the County values making smart investments that protect the health of the community and environment.
Facing escalating electricity costs, the County also signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with system owner and operator TotalEnergies. The PPA locks in reduced electricity costs for 25 years, with options to renew the contract up to 33 years. The County will meet about 11% of its government’s annual electricity needs with solar power.
“This project shows how Baltimore County can turn yesterday’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities,” said County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “We are cutting costs for taxpayers and making investments that benefit our communities for decades.”
Customer:
Baltimore County
Location:
Maryland
System Size:
7 MW
Installation Type:
Ground mounted
Date of Completion:
2025
Notable Benefits:
The project will account for about 11% of the County government’s annual electricity consumption, lowering current and future energy costs while reducing carbon emissions.