Solar

Howard County promotes and encourages solar energy development in our community. Solar is an important part of the goals laid out in the County’s Climate Forward Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.

The Benefits of Going Solar

Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies in Maryland, creates local jobs, saves money on energy costs, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system.

Howard County’s Solar Commitment

Howard County’s goal is to install 437 MW solar by 2030 and 1133 MW by 2045. Our community’s full solar goals can be found in our Solar Statement.

Howard County implements our Climate Forward plan across agencies in government and in partnership with the community. Howard County has a Climate Forward Subcabinet which meets quarterly to coordinate the plan’s implementation. The Subcabinet is supported by eight inter-agency Workgroups, including an Energy Workgroup. Howard County also launched an interdepartmental Solar Task Force to coordinate specifically on solar project implementation. Solar successes have been promoted through the County Executive’s annual State of the County address and through local events and press releases.

Local Solar Projects

Howard County government has been leading by example. Our landmark 2020 solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is the largest in the state and includes rooftop, ground mount, and parking canopies on public and private lands that now provide more than 50 percent of the electricity needed for County government operations. As of spring 2025, 18 solar projects had been completed under the PPA, generating more than 32 million kWh of electricity annually, enough energy to power more than 3,000 homes for a year. Over the 25-year term of the PPA, the Howard County government is expected to save well over $90 million in energy costs. Negotiations on a second solar PPA and other solar installations on County property are underway as of Fall 2025.

Learn more about the PPA on the Howard County Solar Projects page of this website.

Solar Metrics

Howard County added 11 MW of residential and 5 MW of commercial solar in FY25. The County’s total solar capacity as of June 2025 is 150 MW. That’s over 1/3 of the way toward our 2030 goal of 437MW.

Howard County created our Climate Forward Dashboard to make the plan more accessible to the public and to track progress. The Dashboard has an entire section tracking Renewable Energy. We also publish an Annual Report (2025 Climate Forward Annual Report).

More details on solar metrics from 2023-2025 can be found on the Climate Forward Dashboard and are updated annually. Over these three years there have been an average of 835 solar permits issued per year and an average of 746 inspections completed on installed solar projects per year (some permit holders do not follow through with the project).

Installing Residential Solar

Adding solar to your home can be a daunting process. Howard County works hard to make the process easier by providing resources, pursuing pro-solar policies, and making the permitting process as easy and straightforward as possible.

Investigate your property’s solar potential with Google’s Project Sunroof. You can also estimate the performance of potential photovoltaic (PV) projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

Finding a Contractor

Installing solar is getting easier and more affordable. Some companies lease the panels so that you don’t have to make a large purchase. Other companies install panels that you own so that you realize more of the savings.

Civic Works is a nonprofit group helping Howard County residents by making it easier and more affordable for residents to go solar and improve overall energy efficiency. Civic Works provides information and connects homeowners with vetted and screened contractors. Based on a similar process as buying in bulk, interested homeowners may receive a discount of up to 25% off the price of standard market rooftop solar systems.

Switch Together is another group solar purchasing program that helps residents and small business owners save on rooftop solar installations. Through the County’s partnership with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors and iChoosr, the program simplifies going solar by providing education, technical support, and access to competitively selected, vetted installers. By joining together, participants receive discounted pricing—on average 21% off the standard market rate. Residents can register for free with no obligation and explore personalized solar recommendations.

There are also many private companies that you can work with directly to add solar to your home. Solar contractors can often provide an initial assessment based on a virtual review of your home or business and then can follow up with a quote.

• Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP.
• Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers.
• Solar Customer Resource Portal – various resources from the Solar Energy Industries Association.
• Solar Owner’s Manual – information for current solar homeowners to ensure they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors.

For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.

Solar Best Practices

Howard County is working to become a SolSmart designated community by implementing best practices to make it easier for residents and businesses to install and access solar energy. SolSmart is a national program that has helped hundreds of local governments become “open for solar business.”

Policies and Processes

Your solar installer will be the one to apply for permits and inspections and help you with interconnection to the grid through the Maryland utility companies (primarily BGE in Howard County, but also some Potomac Edison). Howard County, Maryland has an Online Portal to apply for solar permits. There is also a straightforward, fillable pdf to apply for a Residential Roof-Mounted Solar Panel Permit. More information about all of Howard County’s permits can be found on the Department of Inspections Licenses and Permits main page.

Howard County’s Department of Inspections Licenses and Permits is committed to exceptional customer services as it relates to solar processes. To promote the continued advancement of solar in our community we are committed to the following:

• Providing clear guidelines about the solar permitting and inspection process in our solar checklist.
• Using a solar specific permit application.
• Processing small rooftop solar PV permits applications automatically. Our current turn-around time has been 1.1 days for staff review of online applications.
• Offering inspection appointment times for solar projects (instead of appointment windows).
• Tracking annual solar permits issued and inspections completed via the County’s user-friendly Climate Forward Dashboard.

Financing and Incentives

The federal tax incentives for residential solar end on December 31, 2025. Other incentives are still available from Maryland’s state government, which continues to be a strong partner in solar energy. The Maryland Energy Administration offers several incentives and grants. Other financing programs can be found by searching “Maryland” with this North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center database.

• A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing is a resource from the Clean Energy States Alliance that provides an overview of the different financing options.
• The World Resources Institute has created an IRA Bonus Mapper tool to help identify communities that are eligible for the low income and energy community bonus credits.
• Tax-exempt organizations, including non-profit organizations, schools, and government entities, can still take advantage of the federal tax credit for commercial solar (available through 12/31/27) through “elective pay” (sometimes referred to as “direct pay.”) An overview of elective pay and Frequently Asked Questions are available from the IRS.

Equitable Access

Howard County is committed to ensuring equitable access to solar throughout the community. Equity is a major focus in Howard County Climate Forward: Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.

Maryland supports solar for low- and moderate-income households through grants such as the Maryland Solar Access Program. Howard County’s Office of Community Sustainability has a strong relationship with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and has pursued many of the available MEA grants. Howard County’s Community Action Council provides no-cost rooftop solar installations for income-qualified homeowners. Howard County also promotes community solar, which provides on average a 15-25% discount on the utility rate for electricity to income-qualifying households.

Purchasing Renewable Energy

Howard County government purchases renewable energy through our group energy purchasing agreement. The state of Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Program requires electricity suppliers to meet a prescribed minimum portion of their retail electricity sales with various renewable energy sources.

Community Solar

Not ready to install your own solar? Community Solar is the newest way to purchase renewable power. It allows you to purchase a share or subscription to a local solar project. You don’t even have to own a home to participate. Anyone who pays a BGE or Potomac Edison utility bill is eligible. To find a list of Maryland community solar projects visit the non-profit Solar United Neighbors community solar website.

Consumer Protections and Solar Rights

Maryland law protects homeowners’ rights to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Maryland Code, Real Property §2-119 prohibits restrictive covenants or HOA rules from imposing “unreasonable limitations” that would substantially raise the cost or reduce the efficiency of a solar collector system. In 2021, Howard County unanimously passed Council Bill 17-2021 which expanded solar opportunities and explicitly states that rooftop solar collectors are allowed in all zoning districts. In addition, Howard County’s Office of Consumer Protection provides information on how to evaluate solar energy options in English and Spanish.

Below are other useful resources on solar rights, consumer protection, and procedures.

• Consumer Solar Checklist – a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
• Solar United Neighbors’ Solar Owner’s Manual – serves as a support for solar homeowners whether you’ve just gone solar or you’ve had solar for years.
• Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) – provide state-specific information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States.
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes – includes details on how communities can encourage solar development through community association policies and processes.

Job Training and Educational Opportunities

Howard Community College’s – Solar PV Systems Certifications prepares individuals for employment as a solar photovoltaic (PV) installer. Course content includes the principles behind PV system design and operation, site evaluations, and system components. This hands-on class includes troubleshooting, repair of common PV system faults and errors.

Local installer Power 52 provides job training and a direct pathway to solar installation employment. Their Power52 Energy Institute, located in Howard County, is the first Clean Energy Private Career School approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Local nonprofit Civic Works provides paid job training and work experience in solar installation.

Solar Energy International (SEI) Online Solar Training offers foundational to advanced courses, including grid-tied, off-grid, battery systems, and prep for North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certifications.

The University of Maryland Extension – Solar Energy Curriculum is a free, public-facing curriculum designed to help residents, farmers, and business owners understand the fundamentals of solar energy. Covers system components, siting, regulations, financial considerations, and technical basics.