Frederick schools win "green" grant

Oakdale and Linganore High schools are two of the biggest in Frederick County, but their carbon footprint will be smaller next year, The Gazette reports.

Thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration's Sunburst initiative, the two schools will be equipped with solar panels this summer.

"One of the goals for the county is to aggressively explore new technologies for cleaner energy," said Ray Barnes, the school system director for facilities.

The money comes from Project Sunburst, a statewide initiative that promotes the installation of renewable energy systems in public buildings and aims to triple the solar energy capacity in Maryland.

Schools in Garret, Harford and St. Mary's counties, as well as community colleges in Howard and Carroll counties, are also a part of that initiative.

Frederick County Public Schools will use the grant to buy photovoltaic solar panels from a private solar developer who will install the systems at the two schools this summer.