Three New Solar Parking Canopies; 18 Electric Vehicles Chargers for Solar Canopy Program

Baltimore, MD —Today the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) announced $750,000 to build three new solar parking canopies, with 18 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, that are expected to generate 4,168,497 kWh of clean, renewable energy annually; or enough energy to power more than 347 Maryland homes for a year. Funding for this project is made possible by the MEA Solar Canopy Grant Program (previously known as the Parking Lot Solar PV Canopy with EV Charger Grant Program) , which is funded by the Strategic Energy Investment Fund. 

The Solar Canopy Program supports the design and construction of solar canopies over parking lots and garages, providing a dual use for the land and expanding solar energy generation in developed areas. Solar canopies provide vehicles shelter in inclement weather, keep vehicles cool in the summer, and generate localized clean and renewable electricity, which decreases demand on the electrical grid during peak demand. 

“Allowing parking lots to produce clean, renewable energy and help reduce the production of greenhouse gasses just makes sense.” began Dr. Mary Beth Tung, MEA Director. “The Solar Canopy Grant Program encourages commercial facilities to take this step to provide a dual use of their land that is dedicated to parking.    

Fitzgerald’s Auto Mall will receive a $250,000 grant to install a 597 kW-dc solar canopy over a parking lot at their 114 Baughmans Lane facility in Frederick.  This project will include nine Level 2 electric vehicle chargers and one Level 3 electric vehicle charger (commonly called a fast charger).  This will be the second Level 3 charger installed under this program.   

Howard County Community College will receive a $250,000 grant to install two solar canopies (totaling 2,600 kW-dc) over parking lots “L” and “O” on their Hagerstown campus.  The project will include four Level 2 electrical vehicle chargers.   

St. John Properties, Inc. will receive a $250,000 grant to install a number of solar canopies (totaling 528 kW-dc) over parking lots surrounding the soon to be constructed The Aspen at Greenleigh apartment complex.  This project will include four Level 2 electric vehicle chargers

Since 2014, the Solar Canopy Program has added 32,937 kW of operational solar generation to the state (generating about 27,010,729 kWh of energy every year) and added 90 additional EV chargers. All current MEA funded Solar Canopy Projects require at least four Level 2 or Level 3 EV chargers to be installed either in, or adjacent to the solar canopy. 

A full list of the FY21 grantees can be found here.  

Visit us online to learn more about this program. 

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