State commits to 50% renewable energy by 2030, will add thousands of
additional megawatts of clean energy to fight climate disruption

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CEJA?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#CEJAlt;/agt;–Standard
Solar, a leading solar energy company, applauds its home state of
Maryland on the passage of the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). The bill
will help further advance the solar industry in the state and return
Maryland to its rightful place as a leading solar state in the country.

The CEJA raises Maryland’s requirement for renewable energy, requires
state planning to reach 100% renewable energy by 2040, and increases
funding for clean energy workforce development. According to the Sierra
Club, the 50% by 2030 renewable portfolio standard (RPS) will
include a jump from 2.5% in-state solar to 14.5% by 2030. The solar
carve-out level in 2028 alone is equal to all of the coal-powered
electricity generated in the state in 2017.

Legislators in the state, led by bill sponsor Senator Brian Feldman,
worked overtime to get this bill passed and have shown a strong
commitment to expanding the solar industry. The legislature also
successfully voted to pass an expansion of the community solar pilot
program.

“It can’t be said enough how proud we are of the Maryland legislature
and we appreciate Governor Hogan’s support in allowing the bill to
become law,” said John Finnerty, director of business development for
Standard Solar. “The long-term effects of this law will green the
state’s energy system, create well-paying jobs and help consumers save
money on their electrical bills. This fiscal-results driven legislation
will set Maryland on the right clean energy path for decades to come.”

The bill is expected to spur the creation of 20,000 new solar jobs,
including 5,700 development, manufacturing, and construction jobs and
drive billions in direct investment in Maryland’s economy. Additionally,
rate payers stand to benefit over the next ten years of in-state
investment and generation.

According to the Solar
Energy Industries Association, Maryland currently has slightly more
than one gigawatt of solar installed, enough to power 120,880 homes. The
state’s solar industry employs 4,515 people at more than 240 companies.
It ranks as the 14th best solar state in the country, with 61,990
installations currently in place. The bill will increase the access to
clean renewable energy for Marylanders statewide and set a new path to
welcome the nation’s best organizations and firms seeking clean energy
to relocate, expand and grow in-state.

About Standard Solar

Standard Solar, Inc. is a leading solar energy company specializing in
the development and financing of solar electric systems nationwide.
Dedicated to making Distributed Generation (DG) solar more accessible to
businesses, institutions, governments and utilities, the company is
forging the path for clean, renewable energy development through turnkey
solutions. With more than 100 megawatts installed, financed and
maintained, Standard Solar is one of the most trusted and respected
solar companies in the US. Owned by Énergir, a leading energy provider
with more than $5.8 billion US in assets, Standard Solar operates
nationally and is headquartered in Rockville, Md. For more information,
please visit www.standardsolar.com

Contacts

PR Contact:
Leah Wilkinson
Wilkinson + Associates
703-907-0010
[email protected]