FY25 Maryland Solar Access Program Frequently Asked Questions

Last Update: 16 July 2024

Wes Moore, Governor

Aruna Miller, Lt. Governor

Paul G. Pinsky, Director

1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 755 | Baltimore, MD 21230 | Energy.Maryland.gov | 410.537.4000

FY25 Maryland Solar Access Program

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions are asked frequently regarding the upcoming FY25 Maryland Solar Access

Program (“the Program”), which was established by the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024 (Chapter 595,

2024 Acts of Maryland, 2024 S.B. 783

) as the “Customer-sited Solar Grant Program”. This document is

provided as a guidance document only for future FY25 Maryland Solar Access Program applicants and

interested parties (“FAQ Document”). None of the information in this document should be construed

as professional consultation. Further, this document does not override the eligibility requirements

of the Program, which will be posted on the Program webpage in a Funding Opportunity

Announcement (“FOA”) later in calendar year 2024. Please direct any questions that cannot be

answered by this FAQ Document to the Maryland Solar Access Program Team by sending an email to

SolarAccess.MEA@Maryland.gov.

When will the Maryland Solar Access Program be available?

Answer: The Maryland Solar Access Program will become available in very early 2025. This is

in accordance with the requirements of the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024.

Can I apply for a Maryland Solar Access Grant for a solar PV system that will be installed

before the Maryland Solar Access Program is open for applications?

Answer: No. Maryland Solar Access grants must be applied for prior to the installation of a

qualifying solar PV system.

How much are the grants from the Maryland Solar Access Program?

Answer: Grants will be based on the size of the solar system, at $750/kW, up to a maximum

total individual grant of $7,500. This is in accordance with the requirements of the Brighter

Tomorrow Act of 2024.

Can I get a Maryland Solar Access Grant for an existing solar PV system?

Answer: No. Maryland Solar Access grants will be available for new solar PV systems only, and

the application for a Maryland Solar Access grant must be submitted prior to installation of the

system.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0783

Last Update: 16 July 2024

FY25 MEA Maryland Solar Access Program FAQ Document

1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 755 | Baltimore, MD 21230 | Energy.Maryland.gov | 410.537.4000

Will the Maryland Solar Access Program be an income-qualified program?

Answer: Yes. The Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024 limits eligibility to households with a total

income that does not exceed 150% of the statewide area median income.

EXAMPLE ONLY - USING 2023 MARYLAND DHCD INCOME LIMITS

Per the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) 2023

Maryland Income and Rent Limits document

, statewide median income is $124,500.

Therefore, the income limit using this figure would be as follows:

$124,500 x 150% = $186,750

Note: This figure will be updated annually. THIS INCOME LIMIT, AS PUBLISHED IN

THIS FAQ DOCUMENT, IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING. THE PROGRAM FOA, WHEN

PUBLISHED, WILL HAVE THE OFFICIAL INCOME LIMIT DEFINED. THIS

CALCULATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL EXAMPLE ONLY.

My household income will likely exceed the income limit for the Program. Are there any

incentives that I can apply for if I’m considering solar energy for my home?

Answer: The Maryland Solar Access Program is a statutorily-mandated income-qualified

program. While MEA will not provide an FY25 residential solar incentive for households that

exceed the Maryland Solar Access Program income limit, the federal government’s solar

investment tax credit is still available. The credit is presently set at 30% of the installed cost of

the solar system as of the publication date of this FAQ Document. For more information, please

visit the U.S. Department of Energy Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar

Photovoltaics page

. Note: MEA does not administer or have authority over the federal

solar investment tax credit. Additionally, an owner of a residential solar PV system, regardless

of income, is still eligible for solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”, sometimes referred to as

“solar renewable energy certificates”). Please visit the Maryland Public Service Commission

(PSC) Renewable Portfolio Standard frequently asked questions webpage

for more information

on SRECs, and how to register for them. Note: MEA also does not administer the SREC

program. This is fully under the Maryland PSC’s jurisdiction.

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CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE.

https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment/Documents/prhp/2023-MD-Income-Limits.pdf

https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics

https://www.psc.state.md.us/electricity/maryland-renewable-energy-portfolio-standard-program-frequently-asked-questions/

Last Update: 16 July 2024

FY25 MEA Maryland Solar Access Program FAQ Document

1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 755 | Baltimore, MD 21230 | Energy.Maryland.gov | 410.537.4000

I applied for and received a solar Residential Clean Energy Rebate from the Maryland

Energy Administration Residential Clean Energy Rebate Program, or I’m thinking about

applying for a solar rebate through that program while the solar rebate portion is still

available. Can I also get a Maryland Solar Access Grant for the same solar system?

Answer: No. MEA cannot award a Maryland Solar Access Grant to a solar PV system that has

received a Maryland Energy Administration Residential Clean Energy Rebate. No exceptions.

If I get a Maryland Solar Access grant, can I still receive a Maryland Energy

Administration Residential Clean Energy Rebate for a clean energy technology other

than solar?

Answer: Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements of the Residential Clean Energy

Rebate Program’s Funding Opportunity Announcement. Information about the Residential Clean

Energy Rebate Program can be found here

How can I apply for a Maryland Solar Access Grant when it becomes available?

Answer: MEA will publish full information on Maryland Solar Access Program requirements and

how to submit an application later in calendar year 2024. Note: The application process will

consist of two (2) steps, per the requirements of the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024. The first

step will be an initial application for funds prior to installation of the solar PV system. The

second step will occur after solar PV system installation and serve to verify the installation has

been completed, so that the Maryland Solar Access Grant can be paid.

I'm thinking about installing solar. Should I wait for the Maryland Solar Access Program

to become available?

Answer: The Maryland Energy Administration is an executive Maryland State agency and

cannot advise you on when to install a solar PV system. This is a largely subjective decision,

and there are many factors to consider. If you are new to solar energy, the Maryland Energy

Administration strongly encourages you to review our comprehensive consumer solar guide, A

Maryland Consumer's Guide to Solar

. If you believe that your decision to go solar will be largely

impacted by the availability of the Maryland Solar Access Program, it is likely worth waiting to

install solar until the program opens for applications.

Can you recommend a solar installer?

Answer: No. The Maryland Energy Administration is an executive Maryland State agency

beholden to the Maryland State Ethics Law, and as such, we cannot recommend, endorse,

promote, or otherwise give a competitive advantage to any installer. A quick search using a

mainstream search engine should be able to provide you with information about available

installers.

https://energy.maryland.gov/residential/Pages/incentives/CleanEnergyGrants.aspx

https://energy.maryland.gov/Reports/A%20Maryland%20Consumers%20Guide%20to%20Solar.pdf