By Samantha J. Majka
Late last month, Governor Martin O’Malley signed two bills for the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for Solar Energy and Solar Water Heating Systems into law: SB 791 and HB 1187. So what does this mean for the solar energy market in Maryland?
The new law pushed the date forward for achieving Maryland’s goal that 2% of all electricity will be generated by solar power by two years. This ensures that the market for solar power will continue to expand through 2018, meaning more jobs within the state of Maryland, and lower costs for homeowners and businesses that choose to install solar power systems. In fact, projected job growth is 10,000 new jobs through 2018, a large portion of which will be in the construction industry.
These new laws will also increase the amount of SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) available for purchase, because the demand for electricity derived from solar power will increase as the percentage of solar generated electricity increases.
On May 22, 2012, Vice President of Solar Energy World, Geoff Mirkin, was present as Governor Martin O’Malley signed these bills into law. He is pictured below in the very center of the back row, with other supporters of the new law which will increase the saturation of solar power in the energy market, and increase the number of available jobs in Maryland.
Solar Energy World VP Geoff Mirking (center of back row) was present for the signing of HB 1187.
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