GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN SPEND DAY IN FREDERICK COUNTY

Celebrate BP Solar Expansion, Meet with Chamber of Commerce, Tour Victor Cullen, and Share “One Maryland” Vision

FREDERICK, MD (July 16, 2007) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown spent today in Frederick County where they participated in the groundbreaking of the BP Solar $97 million expansion, met with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, and toured the newly-renovated Victor Cullen Center for juveniles. 

“Frederick County is a growing and vital part of Maryland’s economy and tremendous quality of life,” said Governor O’Malley.  “The challenges and opportunities we face in Frederick County are the same that we face throughout our One Maryland – managing growth and development, while growing our economy, maintaining our quality of life, and improving public safety and public education for our families.” 

“It’s great to be back in Frederick County, meeting with Maryland families and discussing their vision for the future,” said Lt. Governor Brown.  “Every time I return to Frederick County, I learn more and more about this dynamic region of our state, and I am always grateful for the opportunity to spend time with County residents.”

Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown began their day by attending the Frederick County Ploughman/Fisherman Breakfast, where they met with local residents and discussed the challenges and opportunities involved with overcoming Maryland’s $1.4 billion structural deficit. 

Later, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown participated in the groundbreaking of BP Solar expansion facility – a $97 million project to expand its solar cell production work in the State of Maryland.  The expansion will nearly double the facility, already the largest fully integrated solar plant in North America, and create approximately 70 new jobs in Frederick County. 

At the groundbreaking, Governor O’Malley expressed his vision for making Maryland an engine of the renewable energy economy by capitalizing on Maryland's existing renewable industry and recently enacted legislation to promote solar and wind energy.  O’Malley also announced Maryland’s Solar in School Program to expand the use of solar power in Maryland public schools and praised BP for using sustainable building techniques and their investment of $100,000 in Maryland’s Solar in School Program.

For lunch, Governor O’Malley met with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce where he discussed ways to expand the local economy and improve the quality of life in the greater Frederick region.  The Governor also discussed the state’s structural deficit.    

During his remarks, O’Malley stated, “In Maryland, we face a $1.4 billion structural deficit that we must overcome in order to grow our middle class, improve public safety and public education in every region of our state, and expand opportunity for more people.”

In the afternoon, Governor O’Malley toured the Victor Cullen Center, the state-run juvenile justice facility in Sabillasville.  The center is Maryland's first new state-run residential program for juveniles in more than a decade.  The Center was reopened earlier this month after extensive renovations by the O’Malley-Brown Administration.   

“It is on days like today, touring this facility, when my faith in our ability to come together as a people is renewed and I am reminded of the positive role government can play in helping to shape the young people of today, and the leaders of tomorrow,” O’Malley said.