In an effort to reduce electricity costs, increase grid resilience, and promote the use of clean energy by businesses and residents throughout the state, Governor Wes Moore announced a $2 million initiative through the Maryland Energy Administration’s Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Program that will offer rebates to cover the purchase and installation of battery energy storage systems.
Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of a newly rewired $2 million effort to assist cut power prices and increase grid resilience by making battery storage more available for Maryland consumers and business owners, according to the news release issued on Monday, August 12. Through the Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Program, the Maryland Energy Administration will now pay for the installation and purchase of battery energy storage systems, encouraging the spread of this promising clean energy technology throughout the state.
According to Governor Moore, “Our administration is fighting to bring prices down while corporate greed continues to drive up energy costs for Marylanders.”Investing in sustainable energy contributes to supply expansion. Increasing supply helps keep everyone’s utility costs under control. Together, we are simultaneously increasing Maryland’s affordability, resilience, and competitiveness.
In addition to supporting local grid resilience and advancing the state’s economic, clean energy, and climate goals, the Residential and Commercial Energy Storage program helps make battery storage more affordable to all Marylanders. Due to the changing needs of Maryland’s citizens and energy market, the Maryland Energy Administration redesigned the program, which was previously supplied as a tax credit, to start paying rebates.
The new program is available to residential and commercial applicants who want to install qualifying battery energy storage systems. It helps increase energy resilience and flexibility by allowing more businesses and homeowners to store electricity for later use, such as during periods of high demand or power outages. Through time-of-use savings, battery energy storage systems can lower monthly energy bills by rerouting energy use to periods when electricity is less expensive.
Climate change is making storms 20% more intense on average, according to the most recent consensus-backed science, which poses serious and increasing challenges to grid reliability and resource adequacy, said Paul G. Pinsky, director of the Maryland Energy Administration.As extreme weather events grow more common, this new program will assist communities around the state become more resilient and prepared for emergencies.
In addition to maximizing the return on investment, battery energy storage systems, when combined with rooftop solar, enable Marylanders to store clean, locally generated power for use during outages or after sunset. This further reduces dependency on fossil fuels and speeds up the state’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
Please visit the program webpage to learn more about the Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Program.
