FY25 Commercial Solar Grant Program

**PROGRAM BUDGET INCREASED TO $10,000,000 AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2024**

**PROGRAM OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS**

Program Purpose: The Maryland Energy Administration Commercial Solar Grant Program ("CSGP", "the Program") will provide grants for solar PV systems installed at Maryland businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations, that will be owned by or directly benefit (1) low-to-moderate income communities located in a census tract with an average median income at or below 80% of the average median income for the State, or (2) overburdened or underserved communities, as defined by §1-701 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. These solar PV systems can help reduce organizational operational costs and improve their sustainability, which can help them better serve the communities that surround them. Solar PV systems are excellent solutions for organizations that seek to free up capital for other expenses and projects, expand operations and offerings sustainably, and help Maryland meet its clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. This is especially important for Maryland businesses and other organizations that have historically been disadvantaged, overburdened, and underserved. The Commercial Solar Grant Program will provide more equitable and more meaningful incentives to achieve these objectives under two (2) Areas of Interest:

Area of Interest 1 - Equitable Solar Access for Organizations: Grants for businesses and other organizations that are registered to operate in Maryland that have been designated as, or are actively in the process of being designated as, a Small Business Enterprise, Minority Business Enterprise, Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Enterprise, or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, by the Maryland Department of Transportation Office of Minority Business Enterprise; or are Veteran- or Disabled Veteran-Owned.
Area of Interest 2 - Commercial Solar for Sustainability: Grants for businesses and other organizations with substantial energy needs that can benefit from larger-scale solar PV installations to reduce their energy costs and improve sustainability of their operations.

Type of Program: Noncompetitive, awarded on a First-Come, First-Served basis

Program Application Deadline: 3:00 P.M. ET, Monday, March 31, 2025

Funding: A total of up to $10,000,000 $5,000,0000 is expected to be available, with initial reservations for each AOI:

AOI 1 - Equitable Solar Access for Organizations: $6,000,000 $3,000,0000
AOI 2 - Large Commercial Solar: $4,000,000 $2,000,000

Note: These initial funding reservations will remain in place through December 31, 2024. Beginning on January 1, 2025, all remaining funds for each AOI will be made available to all eligible applicants, regardless of AOI.

Grant Amounts: Grant amounts are based on the Area of Interest and the size of the solar PV system, on a dollar-per-kilowatt ($/kW) basis. The table below provides information on how grant amounts will be calculated.

Area of Interest	System Capacity Range	Grant Amount Calculation
AOI 1: Equitable Solar Access for Organizations	1 - 500 kW-dc	Up to $1,700 per kW-dc, not to exceed $500,000 total, OR 75% of the Net Total Project Cost*, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
AOI 2: Commercial Solar for Sustainability	1 - 500 kW-dc	Up to $1,000 per kW-dc, not to exceed $500,000 total, OR 50% of the Net Total Project Cost*, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
	500 - 1,000 kW-dc	Up to $750 per kW-dc, not to exceed $500,000 total, OR 50% of the Net Total Project Cost*, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
	> 1,000 kW-dc	Up to $600 per kW-dc, not to exceed $500,000 total, OR 50% of the Net Total Project Cost*, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.

*The Net Total Project Cost is the all-in, total project cost minus any non-MEA incentives. Example: All-In Total Project Cost: $1,000,000; federal solar investment tax credit: 30%; Net Total Project Cost = $1,000,000 - ($1,000,000 x 30%) = $700,000.

Program Documents: The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and application resources are provided in the links below. The FOA has all terms, conditions, rules, restrictions, and requirements for the Commercial Solar Grant Program. Please read the FOA fully before submitting an application to MEA.

Questions: Please contact Meg Cefail, Energy Program Manager, about any questions regarding the Commercial Solar Grant Program. Meg can be reached at Commercial.Solar@Maryland.gov, or by calling MEA's main line at 410.537.4000.