Maryland Rebates and Incentives
Maryland recently voted to improve its existing solar program. The current grant program is administered by the Maryland Energy Administration and provides the following incentives:
- Residential photovoltaic property: 20% of system costs up to a maximum grant amount of $3,000
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Non residential photovoltaic property: 20% of system costs up to a maximum grant amount of $5,000
For more information, visit http://www.energy.state.md.us/programs/renewable/solargrant/.
The new Maryland law which goes into effect January 1, 2008 provides the following:
- A Solar Carve-out of the RPS with an increased commitment to solar
- Creates an SREC market in Maryland
- Requires electricity provider to enter into a contract no less than 15 years with a solar owner
- Requires electricity provider to issue a single initial payment for the SRECs
The new law (Chapter 119) states:
THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS FOR EACH KILOWATTHOUR OF SHORTFALL FROM REQUIRED TIER 1 RENEWABLE SOURCES THAT IS TO BE
DERIVED FROM SOLAR ENERGY:
- 45 CENTS IN 2008;
- 40 CENTS IN 2009 AND 2010;
- 35 CENTS IN 2011 AND 2012;
- 30 CENTS IN 2013 AND 2014;
- 25 CENTS IN 2015 AND 2016;
- 20 CENTS IN 2017 AND 2018;
- 15 CENTS IN 2019 AND 2020;
- 10 CENTS IN 2021 AND 2022;
- 5 CENTS IN 2023 AND LATER;
IF AN ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER PURCHASES SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS DIRECTLY FROM A RENEWABLE ONSITE GENERATOR TO MEET THE SOLAR COMPONENT OF THE TIER 1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD, THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT TERM FOR THE SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS MAY NOT BE LESS THAN 15 YEARS.
AN ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER THAT PURCHASES SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS FROM A RENEWABLE ONSITE GENERATOR WITH A CAPACITY NOT EXCEEDING 10 KILOWATTS SHALL PURCHASE THE CREDITS WITH A SINGLE INITIAL PAYMENT REPRESENTING THE FULL ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT.
The text of Chapter 119 can found at http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/chapters_noln/Ch_119_sb0595E.pdf.