Wind Energy Potential:
Average Power: 338 MW
Annual Energy: 3 BkWh
U.S. Rank: 37th

SMALL WIND in
MARYLAND


This page provides information specific to buying and installing a small wind turbine in Maryland.

AWEA’s Web site also contains general information that is helpful regardless of which state you live in, including a Communications Toolbox for Wind Energy Advocates. You will find the information below more useful if you first read the general information available in the small turbine section.
Net Metering
FYI:
For general information about net metering, please read Net Metering - Frequently Asked Questions.

Maryland enacted a net metering law for residential and school facility customers with qualified solar-energy systems up to 80 kW, in 1997. In May 2004, the rule was expanded to include wind turbines as an eligible technology and extend net metering to commercial facilities. The statewide limit on net-metering capacity is 34.722 MW, equivalent to 0.2% of the state's adjusted peak-load forecast for 1998.

There is currently no statewide standard for how excess generation is handled. The Maryland State Energy Administration is currently working with the state (PSC) to develop a standard tariff outlining the details of the state's net-metering program and the standard contract for utilities and customers.  For more information contact the Maryland Energy Administration.
FYI:
For general information about technical interconnection issues, please read Technical Interconnection - Frequently Asked Questions.

Technical Interconnection Issues 

Maryland’s net metering statute establishes that customers whose solar or wind installation meets all applicable safety and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories, and other Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) requirements, may not be required by utilities to install additional controls, or perform or pay for additional tests.
 
The standard interconnection tariff developed by the Distributed Generation Interconnection Collaborative serves as the basis for each utility's tariff. The tariff generally follows the structure set forth in consensus interconnection documents filed by stakeholders in the federal docket pertaining to FERC's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) on standard generator interconnection. However, the Massachusetts tariff has simplified some of the complexities found in the FERC consensus documents, and the Collaborative reached compromises on areas of non-consensus in the FERC process.

FYI:
For general information about contractual interconnection issues, please read Contractual Interconnection - Frequently Asked Questions
Non-Technical Requirements for Interconnection

Maryland’s net metering statute requires that utilities must install the meters and offer net metering at no additional charge or increased electricity rate. In addition, customers whose solar or wind installation meets all requirements described above may not be required by utilities to install purchase additional liability insurance.
FYI:
Background information can be found at the Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Community Affairs Web Site

Local or State Incentive Programs for Wind Energy Investments

Corporate and Personal Income Tax Credit for Green Buildings

In 2001, the Maryland legislature passed an income tax credit applies to nonresidential and residential multifamily buildings of at least 20,000 square feet that are constructed or rehabilitated to meet criteria set forth by the US Green Building Council or other similar criteria.  
 
Credits apply to three types of alternative energy sources: photovoltaics, wind turbines and fuel cells. Tax credits for alternate energy sources can only be claimed if they serve a green whole building, a green base building, or green tenant space.  
 
The tax credit amounts are  25% of the costs, including installation, for a wind turbine. These provisions are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2011.  
 
For more information contact the Maryland Energy Administration or the Information Specialist Comptroller of Maryland with the Revenue Administration Division.
Utility Incentives & Policies

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Credit Trading

On May 26, 2004, Maryland's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Credit Trading Act was signed into law.  IT requires a certain percentage of retail energy sales to be derived from renewable sources, which are divided into two tiers.  
 
Tier 1 sources include solar, wind, qualifying biomass (excluding sawdust), methane from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials in a landfill or wastewater treatment plant, geothermal, ocean (including energy from waves, tides, currents and thermal), fuel cells powered by methane or biomass, and small hydroelectric plants (less than 30 megawatt capacity and generated at a dam in existence as of January 1, 2004).  
 
Tier 2 sources include hydroelectric and waste-to-energy (facilities in existence as of January 1, 2004) and poultry litter incineration.  
 
In 2006, the state's electricity suppliers must provide 1% of retail electricity sales in the state from Tier 1 renewables and 2.5% from Tier 2 renewables. The Tier 1 standard increases by 1% every other year through 2018, while the 2.5% standard from Tier 2 remains constant during this time. In 2019 and later, the Tier 1 standard increases to 7.5% and the Tier 2 requirement sunsets, dropping to 0%.  
 
The legislation directs the Maryland Public Service Commission to establish a renewable electricity trading system for the creation and transfer of credits by which suppliers comply with the RPS.  
 
A supplier who fails to meet renewable portfolio standard requirements must pay into the Maryland Renewable Energy Fund at a rate of 2.0¢/kWh for Tier 1 shortfalls and 1.5 ¢/kWh for Tier 2 shortfalls. For industrial process load, compliance fees will be assessed at rates between 0.8 ¢/kWh and 0.2 ¢/kWh for Tier 1 shortfalls. There will be no compliance fees assessed on industrial process load for Tier 2 shortfalls. The Renewable Energy Fund, established by this legislation, will be administered by Maryland Energy Administration and will be used to make loans and grants to support the creation of new Tier 1 renewable energy sources in the State.  For more information contact the Maryland Energy Administration.
FYI:
Be sure to review AWEA's Frequently Asked Questions on Wind Resources.

Wind Resource Information

The US Department of Energy has produced wind resource maps for each state. The map for Maryland can be found here. You may also find the definitions of Wind Power Classes for the maps helpful.

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network has also collected wind resource data for  Maryland.  

You may also find useful information at the web site for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

You can access the Small Wind Consumer's Guide here for comprehensive information on Maryland wind.
Additional Resources

The American Wind Energy Association provides a list of wind turbine manufacturers

For a list of wind turbine installers in your area, please contact the manufacturers.
Utility Contacts

For a list of all Maryland’s major electric utilities, see the Choose Maryland website. 

Government Contacts

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network maintain a list of state contacts.

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA)

This state agency’s mission is to maximize energy efficiency while promoting economic development, reducing reliance on foreign energy supplies, and improving the environment.  The MEA advises the Governor on directions, policies and changes in the various segments of the energy market. As demand/supply competition, technological innovations, and policy changes by the federal government cause major changes in market sensitive energy sectors (e.g., petroleum markets, gas deregulation, and emerging competition in the electric utilities sector), State government must be in position to respond to new opportunities, as well as adjust to any potential dangers.  For more information visit their website.
Local Organizations Interested in Renewable Energy Issues

MaryPIRG
The Maryland Public Interest Research Groupo administers a Clean Energy Future campaign that aims to promote clean, renewable energy sources for Maryland. Cleaner, safer alternatives are ready to go, making dirty, dangerous sources of energy obsolete. Fore more information visit their website.

Last Updated: April 2005 

Feedback
Keeping an information database such as this one useful and up-to-date requires feedback from people using the site. If you have comments or ideas about how to improve this site, please contact: kathy_belyeu@awea.org  Be sure to mention not only your ideas, comments or criticisms, but also the specific URL (Web address) for the page.
 

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