The Maryland Energy Administration revealed new grant funding for community solar.
“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.”
The Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program for fiscal-year 2024 has a budget of approximately $3 million from the state’s Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF). Individual grants cannot exceed $500,000 for any given project. The program provides funding to community solar subscriber organizations offering clean energy subscriptions to LMI communities.
The program received a historic response to its FY23 offering, ultimately incentivizing 60 community solar projects at a combined total solar capacity of 69 MW, which produced 90,685 MWh of clean energy in the first year. The program provided more than 43,000 MWh to LMI households.
The program is expected to be highly competitive again this year. The agency is accepting applications for the Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program through 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 that directs a permanent community solar program to be made available in January 2025.
News item from Maryland