Solar Energy Grants
Announcements
Sustainable Energy is now accepting NEW Grant applications for our Clean Energy – Energy Efficiency Grant. Please be advised that applications for our Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Water Heater Grants will remain on moratorium until further notice.
If you have any questions, email us at CleanE@co.pg.md.us.
Solar Energy Grants
These grants awards, coupled with state energy incentives, provide assistance to residents to access the benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) and/or solar water heaters upon the successful implementation of energy-efficiency (electricity and natural gas) measures. It also builds on Maryland and Prince George’s County’s energy-efficiency and carbon reduction goals and will help in making our County more energy resilient, using a holistic approach to break energy and cost barriers.
Eligibility
To qualify for the grant awards, homeowners must:
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Be a Prince George’s County resident
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Be a Pepco or Washington Gas customer (depending on grant applying for) as evidenced by a copy of a recent (i.e. within 3 months) utility bill.
Paper copies of the bills are typically mailed to the customer's address on record.
Pepco customers: www.pepco.com/MyAccount/MyBillUsage/pages/PayMyBill.aspx.
Washington Gas customers: https://my.washingtongas.com/portal/
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Live in a single-family, townhouse residence, or condominium that is individually metered (built before March 23, 2016), in one of the following designated Energy Resiliency Communities (ERC): Bladensburg - East Riverdale; Forestville; Hillcrest Heights - Marlow Heights; Kentland - Palmer Park; Oxon Hill – Glassmanor; Silver Hill; Suitland - Coral Hills; Langley Park; and Woodlawn – West Lanham.
To confirm you are in one of the ERC communities, you must look up your address by using the ERC Address Locator. Please note the ERC Address Locator is the definitive tool for determining the eligibility of an application.
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Have proof of successful completion and implementation of energy efficiency measures through a comprehensive whole-house energy audit by a trained Contractor that is actively certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) on or after March 23, 2016, or awarded Sustainable Energy Energy Efficiency grant.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Grant
The incentive amount depends on whether the system is owned by the homeowner or a third-party:
- If system is owned by the homeowner:
- Grant awards up to $10,000 to cover eligible costs associated with installing a solar photovoltaic system.
- Grant awards up to $2,000 to purchase and install a solar power outlet in case of grid failure.
- For third-party owned systems:
- Grant awards up to $2,000 to cover eligible costs associated with installing a solar photovoltaic system.
- Grant awards up to $2,000 to purchase and install a solar power outlet in case of grid failure.
Eligible costs include any parts, components, or accessory equipment necessary to operate and/or install the device. A maximum of 15% of the grant award can be spent on reasonable measures to facilitate the installation of the system on a home (for example, tree trimming). DoE Sustainable Energy staff should be contacted to ensure the measure(s) qualifies.
Solar Water Heater Grant
All systems supported through the grant award are subject to the following conditions:
- The minimum collector size to qualify for a grant award is 50 sq-ft;
- The solar water heating system must meet the requirements of the local codes and operated in compliance with the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation OG-100 Certification;
- The solar water heating system must be installed after January 1, 2018 to be eligible, and 50% of the yearly water heater energy use must come from the solar water heater;
- The solar water heating system must be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor in accordance with state and county laws. Self-installers are not eligible to receive rebates at this time. A manual or manuals must be provided for the solar water heating system;
- To protect the purchaser against defective workmanship, system or component breakdown, or severe degradation, all systems must carry the original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or greater, and all installation workmanship must be guaranteed for a minimum of one year. The entire solar generating system must carry a warranty, including collectors and tanks, and warranties should provide for no-cost repair or replacement of the system or system components, including any associated labor during the warranty period.
Submission of an application for the grant award does not guarantee receipt of a rebate or the amount of the requested rebate. The Solar Water Heater grant award operates on a first-come, first-served basis and incentive rebates are dependent upon cost-effectiveness and funding availability.
Incentive Amount Criteria
The incentive amount depends on whether the solar water heating system is owned by the homeowner or a third-party.
- If system is owned by the homeowner:
- Grant awards up to $7,500 to cover eligible costs associated with installing a solar water heater.
- For third-party owned systems:
- Grant awards up to $2,000 to cover eligible costs associated with installing a solar water heater.
Eligible costs include any parts, component, or accessory equipment necessary to operate and/or install the device. A maximum of 15% of the grant award can be spent on reasonable measures to facilitate the installation of the system on a home. DoE Sustainable Energy staff should be contacted to ensure the measure(s) qualifies.
Solar Water Heater Grant Eligibility
To qualify for the grant award, homeowners must:
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Be a Prince George’s County resident.
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Be a Washington Gas customer as evidenced by a copy of recent (i.e. within 3 months) utility bill.
Paper copies of the bills are typically mailed to the customer's address on record. Washington Gas customers can also access their accounts via the Washington Gas’ account portal.
- Live in a single-family, townhouse residence, or condominium that is individually metered (built before March 23, 2016), in one of the following designated Energy Resiliency Communities (ERC): Bladensburg - East Riverdale; Forestville; Hillcrest Heights - Marlow Heights; Kentland - Palmer Park; Oxon Hill – Glassmanor; Silver Hill; Suitland - Coral Hills; Langley Pak; and Woodlawn – West Lanham.
To confirm you are in one of the ERC communities, look up your address by using the ERC Address Locator here. Please note the ERC Address Locator is the definitive tool for determining the eligibility of an application.
- Have proof of successful completion and implementation of energy efficiency measures through a comprehensive whole-house energy audit by a trained Contractor that is actively certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) on or after March 23, 2016, or received a Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency grant.
Selecting a Solar Contractor
Residents are empowered to choose their own solar contractor to install their rooftop solar system. In order for a solar company to become a participating contractor as a part of the Solar PV grant, the company must be registered as a vendor of Prince George’s County with the Contract Administration and Procurement Division.
- To begin, companies are to complete the vendor registration form which can be found by visiting erpvendorapp.sap.mypgc.us.
- If you have further questions about vendor registration, please contact the Supplier Registration Coordinator in the Contract Administration and Procurement Division at 301-883-6400.
Please feel free to reach out to DoE staff with any question or concern pertaining to Clean Energy Program by calling 301-883-5810.