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Business & Tech

Maryland Embracing the Power of Solar

Summer's almost here. There's plenty of sunshine. What does it take to put it to work for you?

This article has been corrected from its original version. An explanation of the correction is at the bottom.

Rising energy prices are making going solar more attractive than ever as an increasing number of people are discovering that converting sunshine into electricity provides a clean, renewable energy source.

Maryland as a whole has embraced the use of "active" solar power. "Since 2006, the amount of solar energy generated in Maryland has grown by an astounding 15,000 percent, from 100 kilowatts to approximately 15 megawatts of generating capacity," said Ian Hines, spokesman for the Maryland Energy Administration.

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With an active solar power system, panels are mounted on the roof or on the ground to collect sunshine during daylight hours. Placement on the roof or ground makes no difference, all that matters is that panels receive direct sunlight and have a southern exposure.

"A southern exposure is ideal," said Rick Berube, vice president of operations at Standard Solar in Rockville. "It maximizes the sunlight at all times since the sun goes across the sky from east to west.  The most sunlight throughout the day in all seasons will come from a southern exposure."

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The panels convert the sunlight into electricity. Once that is done, an inverter converts that electricity into the type of current you’ve always received from your traditional energy provider. This electricity, generated by the sun shining on your solar array, is used to heat and cool your home. Because you're not using electricity from the power company, your energy costs are reduced.

It’s possible to get an accurate estimate of your future savings before you proceed with a solar installation. "We use a model to forecast energy savings," Berube said. "We take into account the measurement of the roof, do a sunlight analysis that tracks the movement of the sun across the roof, and consider the orientation of the roof. We take [homeowners'] current electricity costs and tell them 'This is how much your system will produce and how much of your costs will be offset by your system.'"

Savings increase if your system produces more energy than you use on a given day. In many systems that excess energy is returned to the larger energy grid, resulting in a credit for the energy you supply. At night, when the sun is not shining, your energy needs will be met with energy from your traditional energy company.

There is usually nothing you need to do to your existing roof or appliances before a solar array can be installed. The cost involved in turning sunlight into electricity is the cost of the solar panels and installation. The state has a Residential Clean Energy Grant Program.  According to the Web site, it "provides financial assistance to residents who install solar photovoltaic, solar water heating, geothermal heat pump and wind turbine systems at their residence."  There is also a Commercial Clean Energy Grant Program for business, nonprofits, and government entities.

For many people, the incentive to go solar is more than an economic one. By going solar, your carbon footprint is smaller, fewer harmful substances are released into the atmosphere, and overall dependence on fossil fuels is reduced. It's a way to not only cut personal energy costs over the long haul, but to do something good for the planet, too.

Correction: The original version of this article included information about an incentive program that was not for solar energy systems. The second-to-last paragraph of this article has been corrected to include information about the state's solar energy incentive programs. Rockville Patch regrets the error.

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