US state soon to get 250,000 MWh of renewable electricity with new 20-year solar deal

In Western Maryland, coal is giving way to clean sun. In a major move for state finances and climate strategy, Governor Wes Moore announced a deal to power Maryland’s future by building on its industrial past. The state has locked in a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with REV Renewables that turns a reclaimed coal mine in Garrett County into a massive solar hub. It will help save money and slash emissions. The Board of Public Works gave its green light to the historic contract, which will purchase clean energy directly from the upcoming 300-megawatt Jade Meadow III Solar Project. Department of General Services (DGS) officials project that the agreement will save taxpayers between $298 million and $515 million over two decades by hedging against volatile fossil fuel markets. Site preparation and major construction are targeted to begin in 2026, leading toward commercial operation and grid delivery in 2028. “Our administration is taking direct action and using every tool available by investing in Maryland-generated solar energy to lower costs and protect our environment,” said Gov. Moore. “This agreement is a major win for Maryland, ensuring our state has access to reliable, clean sources of energy, progressing our clean energy goals, and advancing towards a more sustainable future.” Land re-use This landmark agreement serves as a direct catalyst for Maryland’s mandate to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035 and comply with its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Each year, the Maryland state government will buy 250,000 megawatt-hours of electricity from the project. It would be enough to power 20,000 homes. The deal instantly doubles the amount of green energy the state buys directly. It will cover nearly 15 percent of Maryland’s entire government portfolio. Apart from the balance sheet, the location itself carries immense symbolic weight. Repurposing a reclaimed coal mine in Garrett County breathes new life into a former industrial brownfield site where redevelopment is highly difficult. This sustainable and strategic placement avoids taking valuable agricultural farmland out of production, allowing Maryland to expand its clean energy footprint without sacrificing local farming assets. Old coal mines and power plants already have grid interconnections, roads, and high-voltage power lines nearby, saving millions in transmission buildout costs. Creating jobs for future Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry framed the purchase as a model of smart stewardship while anchoring the state’s broader transition away from legacy fossil fuels. “By locking in long-term renewable energy pricing for the next 20 years, we are not only protecting the State from future energy market volatility, but also securing approximately $300 million in savings for Maryland,” said Chaudhry. The project builds on previous state initiatives like Mount St. Mary’s Solar and the Pinnacle wind farms. During peak development, the project is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs across engineering, site management, trade labor, and technical design. International precedents demonstrate how former mining lands can be repurposed into large-scale clean energy hubs. In China’s Ningxia region, the Ningdong Solar Park sits atop vast coal mining subsidence zones, tapping into thousands of megawatts of solar capacity directly over collapsed underground mines. Meanwhile, Germany’s Cottbus Ost Solar Park turns a former open-pit lignite mine into an artificial lake featuring a massive floating solar array. Both projects showcase how legacy industrial sites can be re-engineered into multi-use renewable infrastructure without consuming valuable agricultural land. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.