Maryland Energy Administration Offers New Grants to Streamline Residential Solar Permitting Statewide

The Maryland Energy Administration announced the launch of a new initiative to help counties and municipalities across Maryland automate and accelerate their residential solar energy permitting. 

The state agency’s SolarAPP+ Implementation Grant Program is a federally funded, $3.9 million Fiscal Year 2025 program that helps pay the costs associated with implementing the free-to-use SolarAPP+ solar permitting software, in line with Maryland law. 

By adopting SolarAPP+, local governments can approve solar projects more efficiently, saving valuable staff time while maintaining rigorous safety and code compliance standards – and helping reduce the costs of solar energy systems. 

“SolarAPP+ transforms the permitting landscape and helps make approvals occur much more quickly, while ensuring safety compliance,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “This platform drastically cuts wait times for homeowners and installers. It also empowers local governments to drive the transition to clean energy forward. This can help make ‘going solar’ easier and more efficient for all Marylanders.”

The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed SolarAPP+ through a collaborative effort with key code officials, authorities having jurisdiction, and the solar industry. This collaboration aimed to promote rooftop solar adoption by making it easier for local governments to quickly and safely approve rooftop projects. It features standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals for eligible rooftop solar systems.

The Maryland Energy Administration’s program provides financial assistance to local governments for implementation costs, including staff training, software integration and contractual support. It aims to ensure that every jurisdiction — regardless of size or resources — can participate in Maryland’s clean energy transition.

For more information about the SolarAPP+ Implementation Program, please contact Emma Stoney, Clean Energy and Resilience Program Manager, at [email protected].

Maryland Energy Administration | https://energy.maryland.gov/