Maryland Advances Community Solar Pilot Program

The Maryland Public Service Commission announced its proposed regulations that aim to establish the state’s first community solar pilot program, enabling Maryland consumers to more readily access solar electricity without having to psychically install solar panels on their roofs.

Maryland Public Service Commission
Contact: Tori Leonard

(BALTIMORE, MD—February 26, 2016) – The Maryland Public Service Commission moved to advance proposed regulations to establish a community solar pilot program in Maryland, with an emphasis on providing renewable energy benefits for low and moderate income customers. The proposed regulations will be submitted for publication in an upcoming issue of the Maryland Register. The public will have 30 days from the date of publication to comment on the regulations.

The proposed regulations initiated from legislation (HB 1087) passed in the 2015 Maryland General Assembly session and signed by Governor Larry Hogan, and were considered in a rule making process docketed by the Commission as RM56.

Under the proposed regulations, the three-year community solar pilot program will:

• Provide access to solar-generated electricity – in a manner similar to rooftop solar and net metering – for all Maryland customers without requiring property ownership;
• Incentivize solar companies to provide service to low- and moderate-income customers;
• Attract new investment in Maryland’s renewable infrastructure and green economy;
• Allow renters to contract for solar energy with the same benefits as rooftop owners;
• Set aside program capacity for each area of the state with a statewide cap of 218MW;
• Create separate program capacity for small systems and systems built on brownfields, parking lots, or industrial areas;

To read the entire press release click on the link below.