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Residential Clean Energy Grant Program

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The Maryland Energy Administration ("MEA") offers the Residential Clean Energy Grant Program ("R-CEGP") to eligible Maryland homeowners who have installed qualified clean energy systems at their homes. Regulations for the Clean Energy Grant Program can be viewed here.

 

Using the link below, you can begin a residential solar photovoltaic ("PV"), solar hot water, or geothermal heating and cooling grant application using the Electronic Application System for the R-CEGP.

Please note: The personal email address of the Grant Applicant (owner and resident of the property where the clean energy system is installed) must be provided. A contractor's email address cannot be provided in lieu of the Grant Applicant's email address. The Applicant will receive all correspondence regarding the application. If the contractor is selected as the primary point of contact on the application, the contractor's email address will typically be copied on electronic correspondence from MEA, as deemed appropriate by MEA. Applicants without a valid email address must complete the paper application available in the section entitled "The Grant Process" below.

After MEA receives an online application, an email will be sent from no-reply@egov.com to the Applicant containing a signature sheet that MUST be printed out, completed and signed by the Applicant, and mailed to MEA. The application is not considered submitted until MEA receives the completed signature sheet. MEA will not review an application until MEA receives the completed signature sheet. If you do not receive a signature sheet, please check your inbox and/or spam folder for an email from no-reply@egov.com containing your signature sheet.

Note to Contractors assisting Grant Applicants with the R-CEGP application process: At the same time information is submitted online as part of an electronic application, please instruct the customer to look for an email from no-reply@egov.com which contains the signature sheet that must be reviewed for accuracy, printed, filled out (to include signature, date, and social security number), and physically mailed back to MEA in order to complete the application.

Paper copies of the Residential Clean Energy Grant Application can be found under the section entitled "The Grant Process" below.

Click Here to Apply Online

 

Incentives

 

Increasing the amount of renewable energy is one of the State's key policy goals. The Maryland Energy Administration is tasked with achieving the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Currently, the RPS requires that 25% of energy sold in Maryland in 2020 come from qualified renewable energy resources, with 2% coming from qualified in-state solar resources.

MEA has recalculated the Clean Energy Grant incentives based on several factors including available funds, economies of scale, a desire for more equitable distribution of funds, the cost of clean energy technologies, capacity factors, potential annual production, and data analysis from past Clean Energy awards:

Residential Clean Energy Grant Incentives
Resource Conversion
Technology		 Installed Capacity Range Award/Capacity Unit
Solar Photovoltaics (PV) 1-20 kW $1,000/project
Solar Water Heating (SWH) 10-100 sq. ft. $500/project

New Geothermal Heating & Cooling (GHC) System


(New Well Field and HVAC Equipment)

 1-10 tons $3,000/project

Geothermal Heating & Cooling (GHC) System Replacement


(Existing Well Field & Replacement of HVAC Equipment)​

 ​1-10 tons $500/project​​
Wind Please see the Windswept Grant Progra​m page.
​Resource Conversion
Technology		 Emissions Requirement Award

Stick Burning Stove​

 ​<3.0 grams of particulate matter per hour ​Varies

​Pellet Burning Stove

 ​<2 grams of particulate matter per hour ​Varies


 

Grants are allocated on a first come/first served basis across technologies and are subject to change in amount and existence based on funding availability.

Please note that the Installed Capacity Range reflects eligible system sizes. Projects larger than the capacities listed in the chart above are ineligible.

ATTENTION: Solar PV Applicants

NABCEP requirement:

Projects that are installed on or after July 1, 2014, must be completed by installation contractors who maintain at least one staff member with a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners ('NABCEP') installation certification; or, for companies with at least 50 employees, at least one staff member with a NABCEP Installation Certification for every 25 non-administrative employees, except if an installation contractor has been registered to do business in Maryland for less than 12 months prior to the submission of an application for a grant.

Solar PV grants only awarded to system purchases:

Only purchased solar photovoltaic systems are eligible to apply for the Residential CEGP Program. MEA no longer awards grants to third-party owned solar PV systems. This change took effect on November 14, 2013 after determining that the residential solar PV grant had a very low impact on the viability of third-party owned systems. Third-party owned systems continue to be widely deployed through Maryland.
Please send questions or comments regarding this discontinuation to cegp.mea@maryland.gov​.

ATTENTION: Geothermal Applicants

As of October 14, 2014, geothermal installations that are replacing an existing geothermal unit will no longer be eligible for the $3,000 grant. In order to receive this grant, homeowners must install an entirely new geothermal system with the accompanying loops or wells. Starting on this date, geothermal heat pump replacements will be eligible for a $500 grant.
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Check Your Application Status

 

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If your application status on the "Open Application Status Report" shows as "Awaiting Signature Sheet," your electronic application is incomplete. Please check your email inbox or spam folder for an email from no-reply@egov.com containing your signature sheet. This form needs to be printed, signed, and physically mailed back to the Maryland Energy Administration to complete your application.

Project Requirements

 
The project requirements are as follows:
  • The property must be your owned primary Maryland residence.
  • Multiple projects on contiguous parcels of property will be considered one project.
  • An eligible property may receive one grant per technology. MEA cannot offer grants to a property held in an irrevocable trust.
  • Applications must be submitted to MEA within 12 months of completed installation​

The Grant Process

 
The application process must begin after your clean energy project is completed. Before you begin filling out your application, please read the Program Term​s and Conditions. Your application will consist of 5 documents:
  1. Application form – Download the application for your technology from the links below, or use the online e-application portal, found at the top of this page. (tip: If you have any trouble opening the Adobe forms below, download the file, save it to a specific location (e.g.: desktop), then open the file from there).
  2. A $0.00-balance, paid-in-full invoice reflecting the total cost of your system. 
    • ​​​Note for Geothermal Applicants: All paid-in-full well invoices must be included if this cost is not reflected on the invoice from your installing contractor.
  3. ​​​Proof of passed inspection for all permits required by the local authority having jurisdiction. This documentation may be in the form of:
    • Photos/scans/copies of inspection stickers showing approval for final inspections
    • Photos/scans/copies of inspection certificates showing approval for final inspections
    • Screenshots of online permit inquiry systems showing approval for final inspections
    • If there is an exception for the need of a certain permit(s), you must include an official letter from the local authority having jurisdiction indicating that the requirement was waived.
  4. A photograph or photographs of the installed clean energy system. If the system is a roof-mounted solar PV or solar hot water system, the photograph(s) must clearly demonstrate where the system has been installed, with all panels or collectors clearly visible.
  5. Historical screening documents (Please see below).

Related Programs

Additional Information

 

Historic Review

Since MEA is required to assess the impact of Clean Energy Grants on historic resources, applicants must 'pre-screen' their projects to reduce the odds of applications being rejected on historic preservation grounds. Prominent installations of clean energy systems on historic properties or properties within historic areas will not qualify for this grant program.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact MEA's historic preservation specialist via email at DLhistoric_MEA@maryland.gov.

Projects that are installed on or after July 1, 2014, have to be completed by installation contractors who maintain at least one staff member with a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners ('NABCEP') Installation Certification; or, for companies with at least 50 employees, at least one staff member with a NABCEP Installation Certification for every 25 non-administrative employees, except if an installation contractor has been registered to do business in Maryland for less than 12 months prior to the submission of an application for a grant.

Tax Status of Clean Energy Grants

Grants issued by the State of Maryland may be taxable. As the Maryland Energy Administration is unable to give tax advice, any tax-related questions should be directed to a qualified tax professional.

Regulations for the Clean Energy Grant Program

Regulations for the Clean Energy Grant Program can be viewed here.

Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

Electricity suppliers must purchase and retire SRECs in order to meet their compliance obligations under the law, or pay a Solar Alternative Compliance Payment (SACP) for any shortfalls in SREC purchases.

To help Maryland business owners realize the benefits of solar energy, Maryland manages the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) program. Owners of solar PV and hot water systems can earn and sell SRECs (equivalent to 1 Megawatt hour) based on the amount of energy their solar system produces on the open market.

In order to begin producing SRECs for the Maryland RPS, a solar generator must apply for certification as a qualifying generator from the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). Beginning in 2012, to be eligible for use for Maryland RPS compliance, SRECs must come from qualifying solar facilities connected to the distribution grid serving Maryland.

  • The SRECs FAQ document provides additional details about how to register systems and sell SRECs.
  • The PJM-GATS Public Reports web site contains a variety useful data, including monthly weighted average SREC trading prices for Maryland and other states.

New (June 12, 2012): Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems in the RPS

With 2012 HB 1186, Maryland became the first state in the country to make the energy generated by geothermal heating and cooling (GHC) technologies eligible for the RPS as a Tier 1 renewable source. To qualify, the GHC technologies must meet ENERGY STAR standards and displace electric or non-natural gas heating and/or old and presumed inefficient air conditioning. Homeowners will be eligible to receive Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for GHC systems that are commissioned on or after January 1, 2013.

Other Resources

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For more information or assistance, email cegp.mea@maryland.gov or call 410-537-4000.​