Maryland legislation would incentivize low-income community solar, increase net-metering cap

A Nexamp neighborhood photo voltaic challenge

Along with the neighborhood photo voltaic trade, environmental and low-income advocates at present cheered the finalization of laws in Maryland that may enhance the state’s clear vitality economic system whereas growing entry to photo voltaic vitality for underserved communities. HB 1039 will incentivize the event of neighborhood photo voltaic tasks that serve low-income communities in addition to challenge growth on contaminated lands and rooftops. HB 440 will broaden the permitted net-metered tasks from 2 MW to five MW, cut back the land necessities for siting tasks, enhance personal funding into native economies and create extra jobs. Each await Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature.

If HB 1039 is signed by the governor, neighborhood photo voltaic tasks will likely be exempt from county or municipal company property tax in the event that they meet considered one of three standards:

• They supply no less than 50% of vitality for low-to-moderate-income prospects at a price that’s no less than 20% lower than the quantity charged by the electrical firm that serves the realm,
• are used for agrivoltaics,
• or are put in on a rooftop, brownfield, landfill or clear fill.

“Group photo voltaic is a technique to convey many extra Marylanders into the clear vitality economic system who had beforehand been left behind,” stated Lynn Heller, founder and CEO of the Baltimore-based Local weather Entry Fund. “With a purpose to mitigate the rising threats of local weather change, we want extra photo voltaic, extra participation and extra motion from our elected officers. These payments assist us obtain all three targets.”

Maryland’s Group Photo voltaic Pilot Program will assist create capability to fulfill the state’s Renewable Portfolio Requirements. The Clear Power Jobs Act handed in 2019 requires half of Maryland’s vitality to come back from renewable sources by 2030.

“HB 1039 and HB 440 ship a sign to the neighborhood photo voltaic trade that Maryland welcomes the personal sector as a technique to inject capital into grid modernization and construct a brand new vitality market that may bolster the state’s economic system,” stated Leslie Elder, Mid-Atlantic Director for the Coalition for Group Photo voltaic Entry (CCSA). “We thank the Maryland Common Meeting for passing these payments and Governor Hogan for his help.”

Information merchandise from the Coalition for Group Photo voltaic Entry