Grants aim to make clean, renewable energy up to 20 percent more affordable for Marylanders experiencing low to moderate income
The Maryland Energy Administration today (Feb 12) announced a fresh round of grant funding to expand Marylanders' access to community solar, which will reduce residents' energy bills and expand Maryland's clean energy production.
"This new round of community solar funding underscores our commitment to making Maryland more affordable by enabling all Marylanders, regardless of socioeconomic status, to plug into clean and affordable energy options," said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. "Community solar allows Marylanders who can't put solar on their homes to source cheaper, cleaner energy from solar installations around the state. It's a key part of our clean energy future."
Marylanders can subscribe to a community solar system and receive the same benefits of clean, affordable energy as a homeowner with a solar system on their home or property. Community solar expands the benefits of solar energy to households and communities that have traditionally been unable to install solar systems due to high cost barriers, having a property without ideal conditions to site solar, and not owning the property where they reside.
Those receiving incentives from the Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program use the funds to help offset the costs of providing low-cost community solar subscriptions to Maryland's overburdened, underserved and low-to-moderate income communities through power purchase agreements. These agreements can deliver energy savings of up to 20 percent for low-income ratepayers.
The program received a historic response to its FY23 offering, ultimately incentivizing 60 community solar projects at a combined total solar capacity of 69 megawatts, which produced 90,685 megawatt-hours of clean energy in the first year. The program provided more than 43,000 megawatt-hours to low and moderate income households.
The program is expected to be highly competitive again this year. The agency is presently accepting applications for the Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program through 3:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Community solar has been available in Maryland since 2015, with the establishment of the Community Solar Pilot Program. The Maryland General Assembly passed H.B. 908 in its 2023 legislative session. This measure directs a permanent community solar program to be made available in January 2025. This timely and important legislation expands the state's community solar potential and continues to guarantee community solar capacity for Maryland's overburdened, underserved, and low-to-moderate income communities. For more information, visit the Maryland Public Service Commission's Community Solar page.
For more information about the Maryland Energy Administration Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program, visit the program webpage, where you can find information on terms, conditions, requirements, and how to submit a strong proposal. For questions, contact Senior Clean Energy Program Manager David Comis at Solar.MEA@Maryland.gov.
The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration is to promote clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner. For more information about the agency, visit us on our website at Energy.Maryland.gov, and follow us on social media: LinkedIn | X | Facebook.
Contact: Tim Zink | 443-758-7344
