TotalEnergies & Baltimore County Join Forces To Set Clean Energy Milestone With 7MW Solar Array, 15,000 Panels, And Plans To Meet Half Of Future Electricity Needs From Renewables

Baltimore County has marked a significant milestone in its clean energy efforts with the completion of its first large-scale ground-mounted solar array at the closed 213-acre Parkton Landfill. County Executive Kathy Klausmeier celebrated the achievement, highlighting how the project not only repurposes an underutilized site but also delivers long-term benefits such as reduced electricity costs and lower carbon emissions. She stated that the project demonstrates how Baltimore County can turn past challenges into future opportunities, making investments that provide lasting value to the community while saving taxpayer money.

The seven-megawatt solar installation consists of four extensive arrays featuring a total of 15,000 ballasted ground-mounted photovoltaic panels. The system is expected to generate approximately 8,220,710 kilowatt-hours of electricity in its first year, which accounts for around 11 percent of the County government’s annual electricity consumption. Using the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this level of solar production is equivalent to preventing the emission of greenhouse gases from burning 621,480 gallons of gasoline, powering 1,151 homes for a year, or the emissions from driving 14,064,876 miles in an average gasoline-powered vehicle.

The project was made possible through a power-purchase agreement with TotalEnergies, which owns and operates the solar system. This agreement locks in reduced electricity costs for the County, providing protection against rising energy prices over the 25-year contract period, with options to extend up to 33 years. Greg Strella, Baltimore County’s Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized that the addition of this large solar energy source reflects the community’s commitment to making smart investments that support both public health and environmental sustainability.

Eric Potts, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Distributed Generation USA, noted that the project serves as a strong example of how underutilized assets can be transformed into productive resources, achieving both significant cost savings and ambitious sustainability goals for the County. Looking ahead, with the anticipated completion of a similar ground-mounted solar project at the Hernwood Landfill by 2028, Baltimore County expects that more than half of its electricity production will come from renewable energy, further advancing the County’s clean energy objectives.