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The University of Maryland Medical System will install three solar energy canopies to save $12 million in electricity and parking maintenance costs over the next 10 years.
Two corporate office buildings in Linthicum and the UMMS data center in Columbia will start building solar energy platforms above their parking lots in 2024. UMMS expects to complete the project in collaboration with CI Renewables by 2026. The hospital system has embraced renewable energy for years in an effort to become more environmentally conscious and diversify its power grid. A power system that draws from various renewable sources helps the system be prepared for any sudden jump in the cost of natural gas or other electricity sources.
"If we put all our eggs in one basket, and that basket goes away, it could pose major problems for us," said Richie Stever, vice president of real estate and construction at UMMS. "Diversification is a key for us."
UMMS expects that the facilities, once complete, will generate 27 million kilowatt hours a year of electricity, enough to power around 2,700 homes. CI Renewables, based in Baltimore, is taking on the capital costs of the project. The hospital system offered its land in exchange and agreed to buy electricity from the solar panels, Stever said. The project is expected to generate more than 100 direct and indirect construction jobs.
After the new canopies are complete, around 48% of the system's energy needs will be sourced from renewable or low-carbon sources. The system operates a solar farm in Somerset County, has an agreement with hydroelectric company Eagle Creek to supply 25% of its power, and will open a new solar plant in Somerset County in July. The company also has several onsite natural gas cogeneration power plants at hospitals in Bel Air, Glen Burnie, Largo, and Towson that produce heat and electricity more efficiently than standard generators. In 2022, the system agreed to a $25 million partnership with community solar company WeSolar to build a solar farm in Baltimore City.
“We have been very intentional in our ‘green’ efforts across the System, and this marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship,” UMMS CEO Dr. Mohan Suntha said in a statement. “At the core of our mission as an anchor institution lies a profound commitment to foster a healthier environment for Maryland."
The state of Maryland has made several efforts to encourage companies to adopt more renewable energy. The Department of the Environment requires that 50% of all electricity in the state be generated from renewable sources. The state also launched a pilot program this year to fund solar canopy projects similar to UMMS’s plan.