What a Downtown Los Angeles Renewable Energy Pilot Could Mean for Prince George’s County
By Sam Braden IV
Director of Business Development, Information Technology & Cyber Security
Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation
What if the planters lining a downtown street could generate clean energy, power public lighting, support community gathering spaces, and contribute to local economic development?
That future is no longer theoretical.
A recent pilot project in Downtown Los Angeles by Maryland-based Gaia Agricultural Technologies demonstrates how innovative infrastructure can transform ordinary public spaces into assets that support sustainability, resilience, and community activation. The company's flagship product, the Gaia Box, combines kinetic hydro-power generation, battery storage, LED lighting, and modular design into a self-contained public planter capable of generating and storing renewable energy while enhancing the public realm.
While the pilot is taking place on the West Coast, the implications extend far beyond Los Angeles—and raise important questions for Prince George's County.
As our County continues investing in transit-oriented development, mixed-use communities, innovation districts, and placemaking initiatives, technologies like the Gaia Box offer a glimpse into how infrastructure can serve multiple purposes simultaneously. Public spaces can become more than destinations; they can become contributors to sustainability goals, community engagement, and economic vitality.
For Prince George's County, the opportunity is not simply to observe emerging technologies but to explore how they might be deployed locally to enhance our communities.
Consider the possibilities:
How can we build public spaces that also serve as decentralized, sustainable energy assets?
How can innovative infrastructure support environmental goals while creating more attractive and engaging destinations for residents and visitors?
How can economic development organizations, municipalities, developers, and technology companies collaborate to pilot solutions that improve quality of life while strengthening competitiveness?
These questions are becoming increasingly relevant as communities across the country seek smarter ways to address energy demand, climate resilience, and public space activation.
Prince George's County is uniquely positioned to participate in this conversation. From the Discovery District in College Park and the Blue Line Corridor to Largo, New Carrollton, National Harbor, and emerging Smart City initiatives throughout the County, there are opportunities to evaluate technologies that align with both our sustainability objectives and economic development goals.
The success of Gaia's Los Angeles deployment also demonstrates something equally important: innovation moves quickly. Technologies that begin as pilot projects can rapidly evolve into scalable solutions with applications across multiple industries and communities.
As Prince George's County continues to position itself as a destination for technology, innovation, and investment, we should remain attentive to emerging solutions that strengthen both our economy and our public infrastructure. The technologies shaping our future are not limited to software platforms, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity systems. They also include the physical infrastructure that powers our public spaces, supports community interaction, and creates more resilient places to live, work, and do business.
The next generation of economic development will not be defined solely by the companies we attract. It will also be defined by the infrastructure we build. Prince George's County has an opportunity to lead by exploring technologies that make our communities more resilient, our public spaces more engaging, and our economy more competitive.
Innovation is not just about what we create. It is also about how we design the places where innovation happens.