Solar Energy

Solar energy is both sustainable and renewable. When the sun is shining on the panels, green energy is flowing to our customer-members. Solar panels are low maintenance, quiet, and generate no harmful emissions.

Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements

In 2004, Maryland enacted a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires electricity suppliers to provide a minimum portion of their retail sales using renewable energy. The legislation became effective in 2006, with the percentage requirements increasing incrementally each year until reaching 25 percent in 2020 and continuing thereafter.

In 2008, the RPS required solar energy to be a specific percentage of the renewable energy requirement and further in 2011, such solar energy must be attached to the Maryland grid. Any utility not meeting the minimum renewable percentages as required by the RPS is subject to payment of an alternative compliance penalty (ACP). SMECO Solar will supply a portion of the renewable energy SMECO is required to provide under the RPS statute.

Maryland Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements (as of 10/2016)
	Solar		Offshore wind		Tier 1		Tier 2
Year	% required	ACP	% required	ACP	% required	ACP	% required	ACP
2017	1.15%	$195.00	2.50%	$37.50	9.45%	$37.50	2.5%	$15.00
2018	1.50%	195.00	2.50%	37.50	11.80%	37.50	2.5%	15.00
2019	1.95%	175.00	2.50%	37.50	15.95%	37.50	0
2020	2.50%	150.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0
2021	2.50%	125.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0
2022	2.50%	100.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0
2023	2.50%	75.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0
2024	2.50%	60.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0
2025+	2.50%	50.00	2.50%	37.50	20.00%	37.50	0