The MEA's attempt to make solar energy a more viable option will be done through an incentive-based program designed to lower the out-of-pocket costs for buildings that want to install solar energy systems on their roof.
The incentives, which were announced last week, will allow Marylanders to qualify for rebates of $500 per kilowatt hour of solar photovoltaic energy used to replace conventional power supplies in systems that generate between 20 and 100 kilowatts of solar energy.
"The challenge for many businesses is that the costs for solar energy systems are all up-front, while the benefits accrue over many years of use," said MEA Director Malcolm Woolf. "The mid-sized incentive program, combined with the federal investment tax credit of 30 percent, is designed to help lower the upfront cost of these renewable energy systems so that businesses can continue to invest in clean renewable energy despite the difficult economy."
The maximum grant that buildings will be able to receive will be $50,000 per grant, as well as 15 percent of the costs for a solar hot water system that costs up to $25,000.
