Just west of Baltimore, Howard County, Maryland is a bright spot on the solar map of the United States, with great incentives, rebates, and financing options for its residents and businesses who choose to go solar. Howard County residents receive a property tax credit of up to $5000 when they install a solar electric system on their home or business. This, combined with the other great Maryland incentives, can make a $28,000 solar electric system cost only about $7000. And Howard County’s residential homeowners are certainly taking advantage of this great time to go solar. This year on Earth Day a family in Clarksville made the transition, which, due to the significance of the day, was a big media event for the county. The solar electric system, due to all of the great incentives, will pay for itself in about four years At the event, Governor Martin O’Malley announced a new $10.2 million statewide program that will provide some funding for government and state buildings and other locations around Maryland that will triple the states use of solar power.

                Already Howard County boasts 35 schools which are certified Maryland Green Schools. The Maryland Green School program, which is under the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, recognizes area schools that include environmental education in the curricula and address community environmental issues. To receive the award schools must complete an intensive application about what they have done as a school for the past two years. Howard County has shown great initiative in making sure that its schools have a strong focus on the environment, solar, and renewable energy, which has led the county to be such a strong leader.

                Vermont based groSolar offers residential and commercial installations in Howard County as well as other parts of Maryland and helps Maryland residents take advantage of the great rebates and financing opportunities that Howard County, as well as many other Maryland locations, offer to home and business owners who want to go solar.