MARYLAND’S ABUNDANT SUN

Maryland aims for 100,000 solar rooftops in 10 years
Meredith Cohn, February 16, 2010 (Baltimore Sun)

"…[T]hree solar related bills being considered by the General Assembly…will make it easier to use solar power…will create jobs and… will lessen dependence on fossil fuels, according to Environment Maryland and the Maryland Energy Administration.

"Environment Maryland says a quarter of Maryland homes are ready for solar panels that could capture energy that is now going unused. The group cites information from the International Center for Sustainable Development that shows the state gets about 196,000 gigawatt-hours of solar energy on a sunny summer day. That's more than what's produced at the state's mostly coal-fired power plants here in a year…"

click to enlarge

"The move [to solar energy] could reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution, as well as make energy distribution more efficient by creating it locally. It could also save consumers money and create local jobs…

"…First, Gov. O’Malley has introduced legislation that would require a quicker ramp-up of the solar portion of the state’s renewable portfolio standard. 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."

click thru for Go Solar Maryland

"Second, Del. Hecht and Sen. 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, Dels. 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…[in addition to now available state and federal government incentives]…"