Local jurisdictions have a key role in making rooftop solar more accessible

Workers install rooftop solar panels in this 2023 file photo. While the need for rooftop solar is not going away, federal tax incentives are, which is why it’s important for state and local governments to step up, Josh Tulkin writes. (Photo by Joe DelNero /National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

This past summer, Maryland experienced record-breaking energy use and record-high electricity bills due to record-breaking heat. As we enter the fall and will soon face colder weather, it is critical that Maryland continues to seek ways to lower energy costs for Marylanders and connect more energy to our grid.

Installing rooftop solar and battery storage brings energy independence to residents looking to lower their energy bills and move away from reliance solely on the grid. Unfortunately, Congress has ended tax credits designed to encourage energy conservation and incentivize people to install solar and battery storage in their homes.

It is now incumbent on local and state governments to take all steps in their power to promote adoption of conservation and solar. While local governments can’t replace federal tax credits or control tariffs, they can still have a huge impact. They can cut red tape, offer their own incentives, speed up permitting and drive down the soft costs.

High upfront costs are among the top reasons Americans who want to put solar on their roofs and batteries in their garages haven’t done so yet. One of the ways we make things cheaper is by cutting down costs in the process. Thankfully, Maryland has already been working to make solar more affordable and passed the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024, which, among many cost-cutting provisions, requires local jurisdictions to adopt more effective permitting technology.

Your opinion matters

Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org.

We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates.

Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines.

Views of writers are their own.

Enter SolarAPP+, which stands for Solar Automated Permit Processing (plus other clean energy technologies). In 2021, I was proud when Montgomery County started piloting the ‘SolarAPP+’ Platform to instantly approve solar permits for residents. Montgomery County has shared that residential rooftop solar projects that go through SolarAPP+ have been passing their inspections at a 30% higher rate than those submitted through the traditional route.

We cheered when lawmakers passed the Brighter Tomorrow Act of 2024, which added funding to support the requirement for Maryland jurisdictions to use solar permitting software to automate the process for residential rooftop solar and home energy storage installations. In 2025, we conducted outreach, hosted educational webinars with guests from the Maryland Energy Administration and SolarAPP+, and engaged with dozens of volunteer leaders across the state to inform them about this game-changing software.

And there’s been some good news in 2025: We were thrilled to hear that, in June, Prince George’s and Worcester counties were awarded the Maryland Energy Administration’s first SolarAPP Implementation Grant. In July, MEA relaunched a fiscal ’26 Maryland SolarAPP+ Implementation Grant Program, setting the stage for additional jurisdictions to onboard, train and support adding this automated tool to their tool belts.

We have heard that Kent County, Salisbury and Rockville launched their SolarAPP+ portals and that Prince George’s, Wicomico, and Worcester counties are all going through the onboarding process as I write this.

As we head into another high-energy-use season and with federal solar tax credits disappearing soon, it is essential that SolarAPP+ get launched in time for residents to take advantage of it. This crunch season is critically important, and far too many jurisdictions are lagging behind.

We have been supportive of adopting this technology as it aligns with our values of making clean energy accessible to more people. SolarAPP+ was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and building safety officials and is now run by an independent nonprofit foundation, with additional support from Maryland Energy Administration grants.

We call on jurisdictions to move swiftly to adopt SolarAPP+, apply for the implementation grant from MEA, and ultimately comply with the law. Making rooftop solar easier for Marylanders is one thing we can all agree on.

Will this solve all of the problems with solar? No – but it is something we can do now, even as federal opportunities dry up. Now is not the time for backsliding; it’s the time to add clean, affordable sunshine into the mix for as many rooftops as are ready for it.