IndustryNews

The community solar concept is gaining traction in Maryland but you may be surprised to know the pilot program has been around since 2017. Right now it’s growing fast in terms of interest, education and projected capacity. This rapid growth is fueled in part by the benefits community solar programs offer consumers and businesses – you can save money and support renewable energy all without the barriers to entry traditionally associated with solar energy.

Maryland passed legislation in 2017 to encourage the development of community solar and other small renewable energy facilities to support the transition to a more sustainable economy and future.

A key portion of this legislation provided for Shared Net Energy Billing.  This allows you to benefit from the renewable energy produced on a community solar farm. You keep your current electric utility and start seeing a credit on your monthly bill from your community solar project. The ease of enrollment and transparency makes it appealing to many consumers and businesses.

It starts with a community solar project that is developed in your area. Developers seek out customers like you that value clean energy and the cost savings it can provide. During the enrollment process, the developer will look at your average energy usage over the past 12 months and allocate enough kilowatts to offset up to 100% of your monthly electric bill.

The energy produced by the community solar farm is delivered to the electricity grid, and the solar credits you’ve earned through your subscription are deducted from your monthly utility bill. The developer of your community solar farm bills you separately for your subscription, generally at a discount of up to 10-15% in Maryland.

In the end, community solar works because of consumers like you who support clean power. By subscribing to shares in a community solar project, you make it sustainable. Your participation makes a real difference for the planet, for your electricity costs., for the development of green energy and benefit your community.

Community solar provides the benefits of renewable energy without the upfront costs.

Community solar is a program for the community! Instead of the solar farm creating revenue by selling the energy to the utility, consumers and businesses buy the energy through a subscription. People subscribe to the energy created in the solar farm that offsets the power they use. The utility recognizes each subscriber as providing clean power to the grid and the subscriber receives credits that, in many cases, zero out the existing utility bill.

Subscribers pay the community solar company for the electricity produced by their subscription at a cheaper rate than the credit. The net of both electricity bills is less than a bill without solar credits.

• • Save 10-15% on your electric bill  
  • No upfront costs
  • Lower your carbon footprint
  • Support your local economy and green energy jobs
  • Differentiate your business by using 100% renewable electricity
  • Support Maryland-based renewable energy