Descripción

Note: This program is not currently accepting applications. At the time the program opened, the administrator expected additional funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 but it is not known for certain if and when the program may be re-opened.

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is offering grants of $1,000 per kilowatt (kW) to public entities that install photovoltaic systems on multiple buildings. Participants (termed “Project Sunburst Partners”) are expected to host the PV system on a site which they own (leased buildings are not eligible) and purchase the electricity produced by the system through a power purchase agreement (PPA). The program is not intended to support entities wishing to install a single PV system on a single site; the MEA is instead looking for program partners with a portfolio of large, suitable, project sites available. There are no firm limitations on individual system size or portfolio size, but there is a stated preference that individual systems are at least 100 kW and project portfolios are at least 500 kW in aggregate.

The first step to program participation is the identification of a portfolio of suitable project sites. The program website lists a series of site identification criteria, which include provisions requiring that the energy be used on-site building and the building be owned by the project partner, as well as describing various building and roof characteristics (e.g., size, existence of obstructions, orientation, etc.) that a suitable site should possess. When the partner has identified a portfolio of possible sites, they are required to submit project identification forms to the MEA for approval. The MEA will evaluate projects based on quality of proposed locations, size, geographic diversity, and ability to execute deals quickly.

Upon their selection, the partner will then enter into a grant agreement reserving funds for the projects and issue and RFP to select a service provider. The incentive is transferred to the partner (or the service provider depending on ownership structure) upon the signing of a financeable PPA between the partner and the renewable energy service provider. The deadline for project identification submissions is March 26, 2010 with further deadlines for signing the PPA (August 6, 2010) and completing construction of the project (February 25, 2011).

A total of $6.3 million is available during Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 for the program, with an additional $2 million expected to be available for FY 2011. Funding for this program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Consequently, recipients of program funds may be required to comply with a variety of conditions and reporting requirements associated with the use of ARRA funds. Ground-mounted systems may be subject to additional requirements beyond those required for roof-mounted installations.