FY26 Maryland Solar Access Program

The FY26 Maryland Solar Access Program (MSAP), administered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), offers non-competitive, first-come, first-served grants to assist eligible Maryland residents with the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at their primary residences. This initiative supports the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024, codified in §9-2016 of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, which aims to expand access to clean and affordable solar energy for households across the state, particularly those with low to moderate income. The program is funded through the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF), with a total allocation of $12 million for the FY26 cycle. Grants are made available at a fixed rate of $750 per kilowatt direct current (kWDC), capped at $7,500 per applicant. The program explicitly prohibits partial grants and recalculates awards downward if the installed system is smaller than the reserved capacity. Systems that have already received funding from MEA’s Residential Energy Equity Program (formerly the Solar Energy Equity Grant Program) are ineligible. All installations must be new and not expansions of existing systems, and self-installations are disqualified. Furthermore, systems must be installed on residential properties in Maryland and must be owned by the applicant or installed with the written, notarized permission of the property owner if the applicant is a lessee. The application process involves two steps: first, applicants or their authorized third-party agents must submit a Reservation of Funds application before installation begins. This includes providing a fully executed solar PV agreement, signed disclosure forms, authorization documentation (if applicable), and property owner consent if the applicant is not the property owner. Once MEA issues the Reservation Confirmation, the applicant has 180 days to complete installation. After installation, the second step requires submission of a Completion Certificate with utility interconnection and operation permission documents, paid-in-full invoices (if owned outright), or a copy of the financing or leasing agreement. Only contractors listed on MEA’s Participating Contractor List are eligible to install systems under this program. Eligibility is limited to Maryland residents with household incomes below specified thresholds based on family size, ranging from $128,430 for a single-person household to $242,055 for an eight-person household. These thresholds represent 150% of the statewide median income as determined by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. All solar projects must also involve a NABCEP-certified PV Installation Professional (PVIP), and contractors must comply with the MSAP Consumer Protections Policy. Applications opened on July 21, 2025, and will be accepted until June 5, 2026, or until all funds are exhausted. Contractors can apply for the Participating Contractor List during two windows: July 2 to September 8, 2025, and December 15, 2025 to March 3, 2026. The program is expected to recur annually, following the terms of the enabling legislation. MEA has provided an online portal for application submission and progress tracking. All grant-related questions can be directed to the MSAP team at SolarAccess.MEA@Maryland.gov or by phone at 410-537-4000.

Ensure your solar PV installer is on the Participating Contractor List. Submit all documentation before installation begins. Use the name listed on your government-issued ID to avoid payment delays.