Are you interested in using solar electricity to power your home, farm or business? If so, you'll want to join a session of the upcoming Solar Workshop series to be offered through the University of Maryland Extension. Each workshop will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with solar electricity, or solar photovoltaics (PV). Residents, farmers, and business owners will learn more about how solar electricity can be sustainably used in powering homes, farms and businesses across the state.

 

In light of Maryland's high energy costs, as well as the decreasing cost of solar technology, many are choosing to offset their energy use with small-scale solar electric systems. Others have an interest in the various environmental benefits associated with solar electricity. Various federal and state policies, including tax credits and SREC incentives, have further contributed to this residential and commercial market growth. The leasing of land to support large-scale solar installations has also come under the spotlight recently, with over 200 MW of utility-scale capacity installed in Maryland since 2017. Regardless of the motivations, Maryland has become one of the fastest-growing solar energy producers in the country, ranking 17th in the nation for solar power production in 2020.

 

If you're considering solar for your home, farm or business, or if you are simply interested in learning more about solar electricity, then please join an upcoming session of this Solar Workshop series. Attendees will learn about the opportunities, challenges, and practical applications of solar PV in Maryland. Each workshop will cover important topics and hands-on training which can help you successfully install a solar electric system, including:

 

 

The workshop series kicks off in March, with additional dates and locations to be announced soon. Workshops are free to attend, but registration is required. More information and registration details can be found online at go.umd.edu/Solar2022.

 

Workshops:

 

 

The workshops will be presented by Dr. Drew Schiavone, energy specialist with the University of Maryland Extension, and other guest speakers. For more information, or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Drew Schiavone (dschiavo@umd.edu, 301-432-2767).