Unlock the Benefits: How Maryland Solar Incentives Can Lower Your Energy Bills

Maryland offers several solar incentives to homeowners to encourage the adoption of solar energy. These incentives are designed to reduce the upfront costs and improve the return on investment for installing solar panels in Maryland. If you’re a homeowner thinking about going solar, here are the Maryland solar incentives you should know about:

Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC):

• What it is: A federal tax credit that allows you to deduct a percentage of your solar installation costs from your federal taxes.
• Benefit: For systems installed in 2024, the tax credit is 30% of the total installation cost. This percentage is scheduled to decrease in future years unless extended by Congress.
• How to claim: Claim the credit when filing your federal income tax by providing your solar contract to your accountant or tax prep software. Or, if you’re old school, you can use IRS Form 5695.

Maryland Residential Clean Energy Grant Program:

• What it is: A state grant that provides direct financial incentives to homeowners who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
• Benefit: Eligible homeowners can receive a flat grant amount, which is typically around $1,000 for solar PV systems.
• How to apply: Submit an application to the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) after your system is installed but before certain deadlines. When you work with us, we fill out all the paperwork for you and mail it to you for you to review, sign and submit.

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs):

• What it is: Certificates you earn for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity your solar system generates.
• Benefit: You can sell SRECs on the open market to utilities that need them to meet renewable energy requirements, providing additional income.
• How it works: Register your system with the Maryland Public Service Commission and a SREC tracking system like PJM-GATS. We also handle all of this portion of the paperwork for our customers.

Property Tax Exemption:

• What it is: An exemption that prevents your property’s assessed value from increasing due to the added value of a solar system.
• Benefit: You won’t pay additional property taxes even though your home’s value has increased.
• How to claim: The exemption is typically automatic, but check with your local tax assessor’s office to ensure it’s applied.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption:

• What it is: An exemption from Maryland’s 6% sales tax for solar energy equipment.
• Benefit: Reduces the upfront cost by eliminating sales tax on the purchase of solar panels and related equipment.
• How to claim: The exemption should be applied at the point of sale by your solar equipment provider.

Net Metering:

• What it is: Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
• Benefit: Excess energy your system produces can offset your electricity costs, effectively lowering your utility bill.
• How it works: Your utility company will track the net amount of energy consumed versus produced and adjust your bill accordingly. This process takes place towards the end of your solar installation. We will need to coordinate with your utility company after installation is complete to get this set up.

• Changes in 2024 and Beyond: Incentive programs can change due to new legislation or budget adjustments. For the most current information in 2024 and upcoming changes in 2025, contact us for a Free Solar Analysis.
  • Eligibility Requirements: Some incentives have specific eligibility criteria, such as system size limits, installer qualifications, or application deadlines. Be sure to review these details carefully or work with experts to ensure you’re taking advantage of all possible incentives.
• Stacking Incentives: Many of these incentives can be combined, significantly reducing the overall cost of your solar installation.