Article - Education
§5–301.1.
(a) (1) There
is a solar energy pilot program to promote the use of solar energy
systems to generate electricity in public school buildings in the
State.
(2) The pilot program
shall be implemented and administered by the Interagency Committee
on School Construction and shall operate as provided in this section.
(b) The Interagency
Committee shall:
(1) Encourage all
local boards in the State to study, design, and construct or renovate
school buildings that are energy efficient and use solar energy systems
to generate electricity to meet some of the school building’s
electrical energy needs, electrical energy demand, or a combination
of the electrical energy needs and electrical energy demand;
(2) Provide grants
out of State funds dedicated for this program to local boards to assist
in implementing the use of solar energy systems at existing public
schools or in new or renovated school building projects; and
(3) Develop a procedure
for a local board to apply for a grant in accordance with subsection
(c) of this section.
(c) (1) A
local board may apply to the Interagency Committee for a grant to
cover 90% of the cost to purchase and install a solar energy system
to generate a portion of the school building’s electrical energy
needs or electrical energy demand.
(2) A local board
that receives a grant under this subsection shall pay:
(i) 10% of the
cost to purchase and install the solar energy system; and
(ii) All architectural
or engineering fees for the design and supervision of the installation
of the solar energy system.
(3) The Interagency
Committee may award a grant under this section for a solar energy
system project with the approval of the Board of Public Works.
(d) Local school
systems are encouraged to seek private funding to implement the pilot
program.
(e) The total savings
of electrical energy needs and electrical energy demand costs that
result from the installation and use of solar energy systems under
this section shall remain with the local school system.
(f) (1) The
Interagency Committee and the Maryland Energy Administration shall
cooperate with, assist, provide technical assistance to, and advise
school systems to identify appropriate existing public school buildings
and public school construction projects that would benefit from the
installation of solar energy systems.
(2) The Interagency
Committee shall adopt procedures necessary to implement this section.