August 22nd, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) today announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 23 (FY23) Solar Canopy and Dual Use Technology Grant Program. This program provides funding to businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, state agencies, and local governments. For the first time the program has been opened to farmers operating as sole proprietors.

 With funds provided through the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, the program encourages development of solar canopies over parking lots and parking garages. For the first year ever, MEA will be piloting a new element of the program to incentivize installation of solar panels over bodies of water. 

“We are excited and looking forward to opening up this program to Maryland farmers,” said Dr. Mary Beth Tung, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “Adding this group will help expand the reach and access of solar canopies and leverage private ponds and other suitable bodies of water across the state.”

The program provides $500 per kW-dc of new solar canopy or floating solar, with a maximum award of $250,000 per project. In addition another first will be the offering of $200 per kW-dc to install new solar PV modules on an existing solar canopy structure, with a cap of $100,000 per project. 

To learn more about application requirements, please visit the program webpage. If you are interested in applying for the program or finding out more information, please contact Program Manager, David Comis, at david.comis@maryland.gov or 410-537-4064. To learn more about the programs and grants MEA offers, please visit  energy.maryland.gov.