Ameresco is working with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland to install more solar. The company has completed a 558.14-kW system at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School and a 244.26-kW at Germantown Elementary School.
“We often talk about the future as something that happens to us — a distant destination we are simply waiting to reach. By looking at our rooftops, we can see that we are not just waiting for the future; we are building it,” said Brandi K. Overton, Principal at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. “The installation of solar panels at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School is more than just an upgrade to our infrastructure; it is a commitment to a smarter, cleaner way of living. As a school community, let us shine as brightly as the energy we are now harvesting.”
The solar installations are part of a broader $23 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) between Ameresco and MCPS, encompassing 25 schools across the district and designed to modernize infrastructure while improving efficiency, resilience and overall building performance. In addition to rooftop solar, the initiative also includes advanced energy management systems, LED lighting retrofits, and intelligent building controls to reduce energy consumption and optimize operations across facilities.
The comprehensive initiative supports MCPS’s long-term sustainability goals by creating healthier learning environments for students and staff. Projected to save more than 5.9 million kWh of electricity annually, the initiative also aligns with Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan to minimize environmental impact across the broader community.
“We’re proud to partner with Montgomery County Public Schools to bring these solar projects online as part of a broader effort to modernize infrastructure and advance sustainability across the district,” said Peter Christakis, Chief Operating Officer at Ameresco. “Beyond the energy and cost savings, projects of this scale create environments where students can connect with real-world energy solutions and become active participants in shaping a more resilient energy future.”
The ribbon-cutting events also served as interactive experiences for students, educators, and community members, featuring live demonstrations of the solar performance dashboards which show how much solar output is being generated, opportunities to talk to an engineer to ask questions and learn more about solar, and other learning activities.
News item from Ameresco
