Program Purpose: The Maryland Energy Administration is pleased to announce the intent to award grants on a competitive basis to support Maryland community solar projects in order to increase energy affordability for low-income subscriber households and promote renewable energy in the state.
Eligible Activities: Community solar projects in Maryland (see Maryland Community Solar Program, administered by the Maryland Public Service Commission). Specifically, projects that (a) have secured or requested community solar capacity from the electric utility and (b) have a subscriber organization with a subscriber organization number.
Each community solar project must apply for one of two Areas of Interest (AOIs).
- Area of Interest 1 (AOI-1): The project must guarantee that at least fifteen percent (15%) of the energy output from the community solar system is subscribed to Low- Income subscribers, with minimum cost savings to those subscribers of twenty-five percent (25%) from the utility’s CSEGS credit rate (or equivalent).
- Area of Interest 2 (AOI-2): The project must provide at least fifty percent (50%) of the energy generated by the community solar system at no cost to designated Low-Income subscribers, and the remaining energy subscribed with a twenty-five percent (25%) cost savings from the CSEGS Credit Rate to Low-Income subscribers. Furthermore, AOI2 projects must be sited on a Maryland landfill, rubble-fill, or brownfield site suitable for the community solar system installation.
Program Type: Competitive Grant
Target Audience: Eligible entity types are: Businesses and Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Incorporated Nonprofit entities, or Incorporated towns, cities and counties of Maryland.
The applicant must be the entity that will execute the MEA grant agreement and be designated as the grant funding recipient. (A parent or subsidiary company may assist with application materials and communicate with MEA but cannot sign and submit the application.)
Funding Opportunity Announcement Issue Date: September 22, 2026
Anticipated Application Deadline: December 15, 2026
Anticipated Notification of Grant Award or Non-Award: Spring 2027
Online Application Portal Status: Open to New Applications
Anticipated Program Budget: MEA anticipates up to $42,500,000 will be available from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (“SEIF”) for grants awarded under this Program. The total amount awarded may be more or less, depending on the funding sources, the amount available and restrictions on each funding source, and the number and quality of applications received.
Program Documents:
Other Community Solar Resources:
The Maryland Public Service Commission serves as the Program Manager for Maryland's Community Solar Pilot Program and permanent Maryland Community Solar Program. This MEA webpage provides information for each project that has been provided solar capacity in the Pilot Program and permanent program. This information has been provided by the Subscriber Organizations and is updated at least quarterly.
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