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<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="9-2016" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2027 PER CHAPTER 595 OF 2024" title_number="9" title_name="Miscellaneous Executive Agencies" subtitle_number="20" subtitle_name="Maryland Energy Administration">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Eligible customer–generator” has the meaning stated in § 7–306 of the Public Utilities Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Low to moderate income” means a household with an annual household income at or below 150% of the average median income for the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Program” means the Customer–Sited Solar Program established in this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Customer–Sited Solar Program in the Administration.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>increase deployment of customer–sited solar energy generating systems; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>provide grants to eligible customer–generators that have installed solar energy generating systems with or without energy storage.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Administration shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>on or before January 1, 2025, establish application and income verification procedures for the Program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>award grants from the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An applicant for a grant under this section shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include in the application an executed contract to purchase or lease a solar energy generating system or an executed power purchase agreement for the system;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>demonstrate that an agreement entered into between a third party and an eligible customer–generator meets the minimum benefits published under subsection (j) of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>include a signed disclosure form developed under subsection (l) of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Program may provide grants to an income–verified eligible customer–generator with a low to moderate income in an amount equal to $750 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity for a solar energy generating system, up to a maximum of $7,500 per system.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A grant awarded under subsection (e) of this section shall be funded from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund established under § 9–20B–05 of this title.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Administration shall use the income verification processes under § 7–306.2(f)(1)(iv)1 through 6 of the Public Utilities Article to verify income for an eligible customer–generator with a low to moderate income.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>A third party may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>apply for a grant on behalf of an eligible customer–generator with proof of consent from the eligible customer–generator; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>be assigned a grant by the eligible customer–generator to act on behalf of the eligible customer–generator.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Funding used for grants under this section shall be monitored through an application process maintained by the Administration and visible on the Administration’s website.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Data on the Administration’s website shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include the amount of funding available, reserved, and spent for the fiscal year; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>be updated regularly.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>The Administration shall publish:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the disclosure form developed under subsection (l) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the minimum benefits that an eligible customer–generator must receive under an agreement with a third party.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>A solar energy generating system shall be installed within 180 days after a grant under this section is reserved by the Administration for an eligible customer–generator.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Administration shall develop a consumer protection policy in consultation with representatives of the customer–sited solar industry.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The consumer protection policy developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include a disclosure form for solar energy power purchase agreements, solar energy lease agreements, and solar energy loan agreements that must be signed by an eligible customer–generator before entering into the agreement;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for a solar energy power purchase agreement or a solar energy lease agreement, prohibit an annual rate increase of more than 3%;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>allow a customer–generator to cancel an agreement entered into with a third party up to 30 days after signing the agreement; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>be easily accessible on the Administration’s website and social media platforms.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
