MEA welcomes Community Solar; Expands access.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDPGC/bulletins/1e1d99f

prince georges county maryland sustainable energy program

March 14, 2018 (Pi Day!)

MEA welcomes Community Solar!

PGC Solar 1

The Maryland Community Solar Pilot Program commenced In April 2017, offering both programs for Commercial Community Solar and for Residential Community Solar.  


Commercial Community Solar

Commercial business 1

The Maryland Commerical Community Solar allows Maryland businesses to purchase subscriptions for energy from community solar arrays, gaining the same economic advantages as having solar modules directly on the roof of their business.  In support of this program, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) developed the Commercial Community Solar Grant Program.  The program provides a monetary incentive for Maryland business who wish to purchase (own) the energy benefits of the array.  For most Maryland businesses, the incentive matches the incentive provided to commercial entities under the Commercial Clean Energy Grant Program    Subscriptions must be to a community solar array within the subscriber’s electric utility service area.  Incentive will not exceed 100% of the smaller of the business’s annual energy use or 200kW.  This grant program may not be used for subscriptions to arrays under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  Read on below for more information. 

 


Residential Community Solar

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The Maryland Residential Community Solar program allows Maryland residents to purchase subscriptions for energy from community solar arrays, gaining the same economic advantages as having solar modules directly on their residence. In support of this program, the Maryland Energy Administration developed the Residential Community Solar Grant Program. The program provides a monetary incentive for Maryland residents who wish to purchase (own) the energy benefits of the array.  For most Maryland residents, the incentive matches the incentive provided to homeowners under the Residential Clean Energy Grant Program. Low to moderate (LMI) residents who subscribe to a community solar array under an ownership model are incentivized at a higher rate.  Subscriptions must be to a community solar array within the subscriber’s electric utility service area. Incentive will not exceed 100% of the resident’s annual energy use (although the subscription may be up to 13 kW).  This grant program may not be used for subscriptions to arrays under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  Read on below for more information.


Program Incentive Amounts 

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is tasked with achieving the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Currently, the RPS requires that 25% of energy sold in Maryland in 2020 come from qualified renewable energy resources, with 2.5% of the energy coming from qualified in-state solar resources. As such, MEA is seeking to increase the amount of solar energy produced and used within the State. Solar incentives are not designed to pay for the system outright, but to work with other federal, state, local and utility incentives to push a questionable decision toward solar adoption.


Residential Incentives

Non-low/moderate income residents may receive up to ​​​$80/kW. ​The maximum incentive size is equal to 100% of annual energy use (measured in kWh) divided by 1250 kWh/kW; or 13 kW (whichever of the two of lesser value). 

Residents who are within the low/moderate income category get up to ​$240/kW to buy into a community solar system. The maximum incentive size is equal to 100% of your annual energy use (measured in kWh) divided by 1250 kWh/kW; or 13 kW (whichever is smaller).


Commercial Incentives

Commercial Community Solar Gr​ant Program Incentives​​​ ​ are a bit different from residential.
Business Category residents receive up to ​$100/kW. ​The maximum incentive size is equal to the smaller of 100% of annual energy use (measured in kWh) divided by 1250 kWh/kW; or 200 kW.

 

For more information about the program you can visit the webpage:

http://energy.maryland.gov/residential/Pages/Community-Solar.aspx 

 


"Transforming Our Communities, One Kilowatt at a Time"

#1

DID YOU KNOW? 

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY IS RANKED #1 IN CLEAN, SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION IN MARYLAND & THE D.C.METRO REGION! 

The Sustainable Energy Program (SEP) offered through Prince George's County provides residents with incentives on going solar, up to $10,000! Their slogan is "Transforming Our Communities, One Kilowatt at a Time" is a true testament to the goals of becoming a more sustainable county, including high producers of solar energy. 

Don't forget that this option is available to residents in the TNI designated communities and in the Pepco service area. Grantees must successfully implement efficiency measures gathered from a professional home energy assessment (audit) to qualify for funding for solar PV. The minimum system size to qualify for a grant is 2kW.

Grants for leased systems are 50% of eligible costs up t $2000. For income-qualified applicants (total household gross incomes that are less than 60% of the median income for Prince George's County as specified by Maryland Department Housing and Community Development, the maximum grant for homeowner owned systems is 100% of cost up to $10,000.

For market rate applicants, the maximum grant for homeowner owned systems is 50% of cost up to $5000.

Eligible costs are front costs for the solar energy system including any parts, component, or accessory equipment necessary to operate the device, and reasonable costs associated with installing the device. A maximum of 15% of the grant can be spent on reasonable measures to facilitate the installation of the system on a rooftop. SEP staff should be contacted to ensure the measure qualifies. 

Eligibility

  • Reside in the TNI designated communities.
  • Reside in Pepco service area. 
  • Have successfully implemented energy efficiency measures on or after March 23, 2016. 
  • Only solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed after January 1, 2018 are eligible. 
  • See TNI Clean Energy Program solar grant application for more details on eligibility.

Subject to the availability of funds, grants will be dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis. 


For more information about the Sustainable Energy Program, please visit the website: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2869/TNI-Clean-Energy-Grant-Program-Overview 

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