Maryland’s Largest Solar Project Launches, On Old Coal Mine

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Marylanders have apparently been good and nice this year. Rather than getting coal for Christmas, they got a large solar power plant installed on the site of an old coal mine.

CPV Renewable Power, part of Competitive Power Ventures, launched the CPV Backbone Solar project a few days before Christmas in Garrett County, Maryland. This is a 160-megawatt solar power project — not the largest, for sure, but the largest in Maryland.

“Situated on a reclaimed, decommissioned coal mine, the 324,000 panels at CPV Backbone Solar are designed to produce enough energy to power 30,000 households, repurposing the land and providing needed generation to the state,” the company announced.

“CPV Backbone Solar exemplifies our mission to support a responsible energy transition,” Sherman Knight, CEO of CPV, added. “By transforming exhausted coal mine land into a productive solar facility, we’re demonstrating how brownfield redevelopment, innovative engineering, and strategic partnerships can meet complex project challenges and deliver new power generation in Maryland.”

“At CPV, we look for ways to invest in energy communities where our projects can have the greatest impact. Garrett County provided the necessary criteria for us to bring CPV Backbone Solar to Western Maryland,” said Mike Resca, EVP of CPV Renewable Power. “This project adds significant tax revenue to Garrett County, and we look forward to being partners for years to come.”

“CPV Backbone Solar demonstrates the role utility-scale renewable infrastructure can play in meeting growing power demand,” said Carolyn Arida, Senior Managing Director of Infrastructure and Co-Portfolio Manager at Harrison Street Asset Management. Indeed. Some in the United States would like to drag us back down the road of old, polluting fossil power plants, but the world is moving into a renewable energy future because it’s just more logical.

A second phase of the solar project is also now in development, and it should bring the total projects size up to 175 MW once completed. This is all part of a 4.8 gigawatt project pipeline at CPV Backbone Solar.

“I’m excited to see the CPV solar project come online. Not only does it return previously mined land to use and add to the County’s tax base, it brings a new source of power to the grid at a time when demand for electricity is growing,” said Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, Jr.

“We’re happy to see this reach commercial operations,” said Board Chairman of Garrett County, Paul Edwards. “By bringing this project to Garrett County, CPV is helping to preserve our region’s natural beauty while creating new economic value for our residents. It’s a win-win for us and the environment.” Indeed.

Featured image courtesy of CPV.