Community Solar in Maryland
MARYLAND COMMUNITY SOLAR SOLUTIONS
COMMUNITY SOLAR IN MARYLAND
IS GROWING!
Maryland introduced a Community Solar Pilot Program in 2017, with the goal of having 100% renewable energy by 2040. With an emphasis on providing renewable energy benefits for low and moderate-income customers, community solar customers are expected to see some savings on their electric bills and all Marylanders will benefit from more clean energy options. As a Maryland Community Solar Developer – Pfister Energy will provide solar energy solutions that will allow communities to achieve their renewable energy goals and benefit from community solar energy.
Maryland community solar developer
Benefits of community solar in maryland
Community solar begins with a Maryland community solar developer like Pfister Energy installing a rooftop community solar project in the area. Power, generated by the solar installation, is delivered to the grid. Members of the community can then share the benefits of solar power without having to install a solar array on their property.
- Community solar programs help support local renewable energy jobs and development in Maryland.
- Rooftop community solar allows subscribers to save 5-10% of their annual electricity costs.
- Subscribers don't have to own property to take advantage of community solar.
- Community solar programs help support local renewable energy jobs and development in Maryland.
- Local energy is produced by community solar, and this has a global impact as well.
- Community solar promotes energy independence.
- Grid resilience is created by rooftop community solar.
- Replacing fossil fuels with solar power promotes the health of humans and our planet.
These benefits are especially important for low-income and disadvantaged communities. In these communities, most people rent their homes, but even those who own don’t usually have enough disposable income to pay the full costs of a solar array upfront. Community solar is a way to enjoy all of the benefits of renewable energy without high costs or the need for installing an array onto your building or property.
MARYLAND COMMUNITY SOLAR INSTALLER
BENEFITS FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS
Building owners, or managers, with unused rooftop or property space can benefit from community solar projects. Utilizing these spaces can generate revenue for your business or building when you enter in a lease agreement for a community solar project.
- No upfront cost is required when leasing unused rooftop or property space for a community solar project.
- Large buildings with low electric consumption compared to size can lease space.
- Businesses with large parking lots can enjoy a yearly lease payment and still have space.
- Taking advantage of this program early ensures maximum revenue generation, profits, and energy savings as the program may change over time.
COMMUNITY SOLAR IN MARYLAND
HOW DOES COMMUNITY SOLAR WORK?
- A community solar project is constructed on a rooftop or unused land.
- The solar array is then connected to the utility grid. This generates eco-friendly solar energy for the grid, helping reduce reliance on harmful fossil fuels.
- An electric meter keeps track of the energy being produced which the utility then translates into a monetary value, which is called a “solar credit.”
- Individuals subscribe to the project, and by doing so get a share of the credits produced. These credits are what lead to reductions in energy costs.
- Local governments enable project owners to provide these credits as part of Maryland’s renewable incentive program.
- As the solar farm is connected to the utility company, the credits are efficiently applied right onto existing utility bills.
MARYLAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS
WHAT IS THE MARYLAND COMMUNITY SOLAR PILOT PROGRAM?
The Maryland Community Solar Pilot Program began as a seven-year program that:
- Provided access to solar energy for all Maryland customers without requiring property ownership
- Incentivized solar companies to provide service to low- and moderate-income customers
- Set aside program capacity for each area of the state with a statewide cap of about 418 MW. About 125 MW is set aside for projects focused on low and moderate-income customers
- Attracted new investment into Maryland’s renewable infrastructure and green economy
- Allowed renters to contract for solar energy with the same benefits as rooftop owners
- Created separate program capacity for small systems and systems built on brownfields, parking lots, or industrial areas
- Allowed smaller territories to make use of existing solar facilities while encouraging the construction of new systems in the urban and suburban areas of Maryland
The Maryland Community Solar Pilot Program became permanent in 2023 with the passing of House Bill (HB) 908.
Improvements to the program include:
Capacity: the pilot program put a limit on statewide capacity, and the new bill allows for unlimited capacity. As of 2022, there is approximately 88 MW of community solar capacity in operation in Maryland.
Contiguous Development: HB 908 clarified limitations on community solar projects built on adjacent parcels of land. This will allow for the contiguous development of more than 5 MW in areas including industrial zones, parking lots, and farmland (which allows for scaled agrivoltaic projects).
Equity: The pilot program set aside 125 MW for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households. HB 908 updated this to require that 40% of each community solar project services LMI subscribers.
Maryland COMMUNITY SOLAR Developer
Services
LEASE YOUR PROPERTY, ROOF, OR PARKING LOT AREA today with pfister energy, a maryland community solar developer!
Learn more about Maryland’s Community Solar Program here!
