The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Department of General Services (DGS) have been awarded the 2024 Innovation Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for the Brookville Smart Energy Solar Charging Depot in Silver Spring. 

The 2024 APTA Awards recognize those in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence and whose accomplishments and innovations have greatly advanced public transportation. This prestigious national award is among the most competitive.  

“Montgomery County continues to receive national recognition and accolades for our innovative Brookville Smart Energy Solar Charging Depot,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This project is a clear example of how we’re taking meaningful steps toward building a cleaner, more sustainable future. By investing in zero-emission infrastructure like this, we’re not just reducing our carbon footprint—we’re leading by example. This depot is a model for how we can power our bus fleet with clean energy, and it moves us closer to achieving our goal of a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. The work we’re doing here in Montgomery County is setting the standard for other communities across the country. Congratulations to MCDOT, DGS, and AlphaStruxure for their work in making this project a reality for Montgomery County and a model for jurisdictions across our nation and globe.” 

The Brookville Depot features solar panels installed on tall canopies with charging stations, onsite battery storage and backup generation at an existing MCDOT Ride On bus depot. It will provide clean, renewable energy to charge up to 70 electric buses by 2026, with ample electric storage. The project contributes significantly to expanding the needed infrastructure for the growing MCDOT zero-emission bus fleet.  

The project was completed through a partnership between DGS and AlphaStruxure, a leader in Energy as a Service (EaaS) solutions. The microgrid and charging infrastructure was delivered at no upfront cost to the County through the EaaS contract, a long-term agreement ensuring predictable operating expenses and guaranteed performance for sustainability, resilience and reliability. 

“The Brookville Depot provides a critical first step in transitioning our bus fleet of nearly 400 buses to zero-emission by 2035,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “This project will serve as a model for municipalities across the country for large-scale fleet electrification.” 

MCDOT and DGS released a Zero Emissions Bus Transition Plan this past Spring. MCDOT is actively seeking federal funding to purchase additional buses. Montgomery County already has started construction on an even larger microgrid needed to support the transition.  

“We have some very exciting projects that are setting us apart as a zero emissions leader,” said DGS Director David Dise. “The ZEB Transition Plan is comprehensive and considers the charging and maintenance infrastructure we need to support a zero-emission bus fleet. We now have a solid long-range plan to work from, which is important for the County to be able to make timely decisions, visualize a path forward and offer transparency. This plan can be used as a model for other jurisdictions looking to follow in our footsteps.” 

For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Facebook, and  Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.  

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