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April 22, 2010

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Howard County awarded a $462,000 Project Sunburst grant

County Executive Ulman Joined Governor O’Malley to Celebrate Earth Day by Installing Solar Panels

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman joined Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Astrum Solar, a residential and small commercial solar panels installation company, today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and green jobs in Maryland. In honor of Earth Day, the Governor and County Executive lent a helping hand by assisting Astrum Solar with the installation of solar panels on the roof of Howard County residents Len and Michelle Ostroff’s Clarksville home. In addition, County Executive Ulman announced that Howard County was awarded $462,000 from the Maryland Energy Administration’s Project Sunburst grant. The State of Maryland also received a Project Sunburst grant, which the State plans to use to fund solar installations on 32 government buildings which will nearly triple the amount of solar energy produced in Maryland over the next 12 months.

“I appreciate Governor O’Malley spending Earth Day here in Howard County,” said County Executive Ulman. “For the past three years Howard County government has made protecting the environment one of our main priorities; and offering tax credits to residents who install solar panels in their homes has been a core component of our sustainability plan. Today’s event highlights our partnership with both the state and our local business community.”

Back on September 3, 2008, County Executive Ulman announced during a press conference the County’s plans to install solar panels at the former New Cut Landfill to offset electrical use at Worthington Elementary School. Project Sunburst, administered by the Maryland Energy Administration, will assist Howard County in offsetting the cost of this solar project. Solar arrays are to be installed on approximately two acres of the landfill and are estimated to generate electricity for about 98% of Worthington Elementary School’s electrical demand at peak production. Excess power generated by the arrays will be routed back into the utility grid and credited to the School’s electric bill using a net metering system

Grants for Project Sunburst are being awarded to selected government entities at a rate of $1,000 per kilowatt (kW) on photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on public buildings. Award recipients under Project Sunburst range from public school systems throughout the State, to the Salisbury Fire Station, the City of Baltimore Convention Center and the Maryland Port Authority Marine Terminal.

The Governor who is currently on a "Jobs Across Maryland" tour, declared the theme for this Earth Day event as "Green Jobs Across Maryland." “I am proud to announce that Maryland will nearly triple the amount of solar energy produced in the State, creating an estimated 100 jobs. Maryland continues to lead by example through clean energy programs and incentives for all sectors. Last month, Maryland led the nation in job creation, and we’re showing each day that environmental stewardship can help drive economic progress and create green jobs throughout our State,” said Governor O’Malley.

“We’re proud to join with Governor O’Malley and County Executive Ulman in creating new jobs and economic opportunity within the state,” said Astrum Solar President Vadim Polikov, PhD. “The time to go solar is now. With every month that goes by, more and more Maryland homeowners learn about solar energy and immediately see the promise and opportunity it holds for them and their families.”