Maryland officials are pushing for residents to become more energy efficient.
State programs include tax credits, loans and outright grants.
The most recent program allows residents to borrow anemometers and wind vanes ? which are wind measuring devices ? to determine the wind characteristics of their property.
The program has six anemometers ? four will be mounted atop 99-foot towers, and two will be mounted atop 164-foot towers that are supported by four sets of guy wires. The data collected allow landowners to assess the economic feasibility of using wind energy, according to a statement by the Maryland Energy Administration.
Wind energy is currently the world?s fastest-growing renewable energy source in terms of percentage, with an annual growth rate of 25 percent. James Madison University of Harrisonburg, Va., will partner with the state energy administration to oversee the program. It requires residents to fill out a loan application.
The Maryland Energy Administration is also provides partial funding to install certain solar energy systems.
The funding includes 20 percent of a system?s costs up to a maximum grant of $2,000 for solar water heating and 20 percent of system?s cost up to a maximum grant of $3,000 for solar home heating.
And private businesses are getting into the mix, too.
The Better Choice Group, based in Gwynn Oak, has partnered with Solar Night Industries in St. Louis, a solar system manufacturer, to begin a certification program for companies that install solar systems. Better Choice consists of researchers, educators and industry experts whose goal is to apply modern technology to solve everyday problems.
“We are very excited by theopportunity to work with Solar Night Industries to provide our training programs to their commercial and industrial customers,” stated George Evans, CEO of the Better Choice Group.
“Through our affiliations with institutions of higher learning, we will provide Solar Night Industries with research and development on the cutting edge of solar technology applications,” Evans stated.
The joint program will provide a training certification program for installers as well as promote solar systems for residential, commercial and government applications.
More information
» Information on the anemometers program can obtained by calling 540-568-8754 or visiting the Web site www.energy.state.md.us.
