The City of Frederick, Maryland, has partnered with Secure Solar Futures and Capital Solar Group to develop a 384-kW solar canopy at the city’s Police Department Headquarters by the end of 2024.
This Police Department solar energy system will be the first solar canopy on a municipal building in the City of Frederick and the first at a public safety facility in Frederick County.
In its first year of operation, the solar canopy project is expected to produce 444,800 kWh of electric power – enough energy to power 40 average homes. This generated power will also cover nearly 14% of the Police Headquarters’ electricity demand. Any remaining electricity demand will be covered by purchasing power from the local utility.
The solar canopy will also protect the Police Department’s fleet vehicles against inclement weather – such as rain, snow, and sleet – to ensure the vehicles are ready to respond in an emergency while reducing their overall maintenance costs.
The partners also engaged in a power purchase agreement (PPA), allowing the facility to receive solar power equipment without any upfront capital cost from the city. In addition, during the 25-year term of the PPA, Secure Solar Futures will own and operate the solar canopy, providing 100% of the canopy’s generated power directly to the city and creating electricity cost savings of more than $174,500.
Once the PPA is fulfilled, the City of Frederick can take ownership of the solar system at a nominal cost to produce its own energy for the remainder of the equipment’s 40-year productive lifespan.
