Three developers team up on 24-MW community solar portfolio in Maryland

Solar energy development leaders OneEnergy Renewables, CleanChoice Energy and Standard Solar announced a collaboration to build nine community solar projects in Maryland. Development work on the 24-MW portfolio is complete, and four of the nine projects are ready for operation.

As part of Maryland’s Community Solar Pilot Program, the projects enable Maryland residents to save up to 10% on their utility bills based on electricity generated by the projects. The 24-MW portfolio is projected to benefit 5,000+ Maryland households annually through community solar subscriptions.

The nine projects are located across five different Maryland counties and three utility territories. All the projects are ‘dual-use,’ which means they will function as solar farms and pollinator habitats.

Standard Solar funded the construction and will own and operate the projects long-term. OneEnergy partnered with the landowners to site, permit and design the projects, and CCE is responsible for the customer acquisition to sign up Maryland residents.

Yesterday, Standard Solar, OneEnergy and CCE hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Checkerspot Community Solar site in Tracy’s Landing.

“By teaming up with the talented development team at OneEnergy on this statewide portfolio, Standard Solar is helping Maryland reach its renewable energy goals and reinforcing its commitment to Maryland,” said Eric Partyka, director of business development for Standard Solar. “Adding these nine dual-use community solar projects to our ownership portfolio aligns with our goal to increase access to renewable energy for communities across Maryland and of being responsible stewards of environmental resources.”

Together, the projects help Maryland meet its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets and contribute significant capacity to Maryland’s community solar market. Maryland currently ranks seventeenth in the country for solar capacity, with enough solar installed to power more than 153,000 homes.

“We are proud to help make solar energy another crop for our landowners, enabling many to maintain farms that have been in their families for generations,” said Marni Caroll, VP of development for OneEnergy. “Each project will feature new habitat for native pollinators, which contribute to one in every three bites of food we eat. These projects demonstrate that community solar can benefit the electric grid we depend on, the air we breathe, and the farmlands we love.”

The projects are named for butterflies, pollinator plants and other local natural landmarks. The projects are as follows:

Anne Arundel County, Utility: BGE

• Checkerspot, 2 MW
• Bathian, 2.8 MW
• Patuxent, 2.8 MW

Baltimore County, Utility: BGE

• Sassafras, 2.4 MW
• Trillium, 2.8 MW

Howard County, Utility: BGE

• Metalmark, 2.8 MW
• Viceroy, 2.6 MW

Prince George’s County, Utility: PEPCO

• Monarch, 2.8 MW

Dorchester County, Utility: Delmarva

• Glassywing, 2 MW

“Community solar is critical to increasing access to the benefits of solar. Our partnership with Standard Solar and OneEnergy Renewables means that thousands of Marylanders are able to save money while supporting solar here in the state,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CCE. “Community solar and other climate-tech solutions empower consumers to be the driving force behind decarbonization, and CleanChoice is proud to be moving us toward a more sustainable future.”

News item from Standard Solar

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/11/three-developers-team-up-24-mw-community-solar-portfolio-in-maryland/