Environment Maryland is working to pass three pieces of legislation to help our state take advantage of its great solar potential. 

First, Governor O’Malley has introduced legislation that would require a quicker ramp-up of the solar portion of the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS).  This would mean that utilities would have to get a greater percentage of their energy portfolio from solar power sooner, which would jumpstart job creation and cut down on our emission of greenhouse gases.

Second, Delegate Hecht and Senator Middleton are leading an effort to introduce legislation that would give municipalities the means by which to loan people money for solar and other clean energy projects at very low interest rates, resulting in more homeowners taking advantage of the clean, reliable electricity that solar energy generation provides.

Finally, Delegates Pinsky and Hecht are working on "net-metering" legislation, which would require utilities to pay customers back for surplus energy they create with the solar panels on their roofs.

Let your legislator know you support solar incentives.  It should be cost-effective and easy for everyday people to use solar power.

According to the International Center for Sustainable Development, Maryland receives about 196,000 gigawatt-hours of solar energy on a sunny summer day, which is more than all the power plants in the state produce in a whole year.  Out of that great potential, almost one-fourth of Maryland’s residential roofs would be eligible for solar installation and effective energy production right away. 

Investing in solar power would help our state break its addiction to harmful fossil fuels.  Coal is a dirty, dangerous energy source, which emits large amounts of greenhouse gases and particulate matter into the air; it is alarming, then, that coal-fired power plants produce the vast majority of Maryland’s electricity.  Instead of powering our state with coal, Maryland needs to focus on supplying power for people’s homes and businesses with clean, renewable energy, which would help the quality of our air and water, and give our state an economic boost at the same time.

Putting solar panels on your roof means that your electricity is generated locally.  Generating power locally improves the efficiency of the entire system of energy production.  A significant amount of electricity – up to 7 percent– is “lost” in the transmission and distribution of power from central-station power plants to homes.  Solar panels and other forms of local generation avoid those losses.

 
Developing solar power in Maryland can benefit all those who live and work in the state –  reducing air pollution, protecting consumers from volatile electricity prices, and reducing the need for expensive upgrades to electric transmission systems.  By passing smart legislation, like the three bills listed below, the state can reap those benefits while creating green jobs and helping Maryland take control of its energy production.
Environment Maryland is working to pass three pieces of legislation to help our state take advantage of its great solar potential.