ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced a new $2 million initiative to make battery storage more accessible for residents and business owners, aiming to lower electricity costs and improve grid resilience.
The new Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Program, redefined from a previous tax credit, will offer rebates to cover the costs of purchasing and installing battery energy storage systems, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“While corporate greed continues to drive up energy costs for Marylanders, our administration is fighting to bring prices down,” Moore said. “When we invest in clean energy, we help expand supply. When we expand supply, we help rein in utility expenses for everyone.”
The program is open to both residential and commercial applicants and is designed to help homeowners and businesses store electricity for use during peak demand periods or power outages. By shifting energy use to cheaper times, the battery systems can help reduce monthly energy bills, the release said.
Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky noted that climate change is making storms more severe, presenting challenges to grid reliability.
“This new program will help support emergency preparedness and build resiliency for communities statewide, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent,” Pinsky said.
When paired with rooftop solar panels, the battery storage systems allow for the use of locally generated power after sunset or during outages, maximizing the value of the solar investment and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, according to the governor’s office.
For more information, the public can visit the program’s webpage.
