Mo-Co Alliance
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • A Brief History
    • Board & AC
    • Staff & Volunteers
    • Contact
    • Buy MCA Gear
  • About Ag Reserve
    • Rooted in the Reserve Podcast
    • Growing Legacy Film
    • History of the Ag Reserve
    • Benefits of the Ag Reserve
    • Agriculture Education
    • Farm Facts
    • Threats to the Ag Reserve
    • A Place with Purpose
  • News
  • Events
    • Local Events
    • Royce Hanson Award
    • Ride for Reserve
  • Support Local
    • Agricultural Guide
    • Local Food Connection
    • Good Fences Grant
    • Community Supported Agriculture
    • Restaurants & Retail
    • Artists of the Reserve
  • Community Resources
    • Land Link >
      • Labor Link
    • Re-leaf the Reserve
    • PLENTY Magazine
    • Producer's Resources
    • BIPOC Farmer Guide
    • Directory of Local Services
    • Friends of Ten Mile Creek
  • DONATE

Solar Resources for Montgomery County

Renewable energy must be part of our response to climate change. In our region, solar is the most practical renewable energy generation solution. MCA was proud to lead a coalition of farmers, civic groups and environmentalists to pass provisions for responsibly siting solar in the Ag Reserve. Deciding to go solar on your residential, commercial or agricultural property is a big decision and it can be hard to know where to start. We have gathered the following resources to clarify the process. We are also co-hosting webinars to answer the questions of each type of property owner. 
Solar Webinars (recordings available) 
​

Roof Mounted Solar for Residences and Businesses (May 2021)
Solar Options for Farm Businesses: Part 1 - Accessory Solar (January 24, 2022)
Solar Options for Farm Businesses: Part 2 - Community Solar ( 5/22/23 RSVP/ Recording ) 
(read on for an explainer on the difference between Accessory and Community Solar)
Special thanks to our webinar co-hosts the Montgomery County Green Bank and Montgomery County Office of Agriculture

Resources By Property Type:

Picture
Homeowners
  • Compare Energy Quotes and check out your home's "sun score" on Energy Sage
  • MoCo DEP launched e-solar - a streamlined process for residential solar projects
  • Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services Residential Solar Guide
  • ​MCA/MoCo Green Bank's Solar Webinar for Commercial and Residential Solar
  • ​Subscribe to a Community Solar Project
Picture
Businesses/Multi-Family Residences
  • Find an installer and get quotes through Energy Sage
  •  Find Financing Resources from the MoCo Green Bank
  • MoCo's Department of Permitting Services Commercial Solar Guide
  • ​MCA/MoCo Green Bank's Solar Webinar for Commercial and Residential Solar
Picture
Farms 
  • ​Accessory Solar Webinar recording with presentations from an installer and farm hosting accessory solar January 2022 with the MoCo Green Bank and Office of Agriculture 
  • Community Solar Webinar Recording and Resources
  • ​The MoCo Office of Agriculture has compiled this list of solar developer/installers
Community Solar vs. Accessory Solar:
  •  Accessory Solar: a solar array is installed to meet more than the current power needs of a business.  The business' electric meter runs in reverse when they are producing power above their needs and starts running forward when their panels are not meeting their energy demand. The business is reimbursed with wholesale energy credits at the end of the year if there is a surplus of energy. Recent Montgomery County zoning changes now allow Ag Reserve farms to install accessory solar up to 200% of their needs. Check out our webinar to learn more.
  • Community Solar: a large array is installed (could be rooftop or ground mounted) and customers of the same power utility subscribe to purchase the power created by the large array. Community solar programs are most beneficial when subscriptions are offered to low income residents to lock in stable power rates. Community solar allows residents who can't put solar on their roofs to support solar power. Residents can find community solar projects here.

More on Solar in Montgomery County

  • MoCo Has the Largest Solar Project dedicated to low and moderate income subscribers
  • ​The first community solar project in Montgomery County  sits atop Silver Spring Apartments
  • ​Montgomery County awarded SolSmart Gold for advancing solar energy
  • ​Montgomery County Solar Projects Mapping 
  • Solar can be sited while protecting forests and farms
ABOUT US
What We Do
A Brief History
Board & AC
Staff & Volunteers
Contact
​​Buy MCA Gear
ABOUT Ag RESERVE
History of the Ag
Benefits of the Ag
Farm Facts
Threats to the Ag
​A Place with Purpose
NEWS
EVENTS
Local Events
Ride for the Reserve
Royce Hanson Award
SUPPORT LOCAL
Ag Guide
Local Food Connection
Community Supported Agriculture
Restaurants & Retail
​Artists of the Reserve
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
​Land Link
Producer's Resources
Directory of Services
Picture
Montgomery Countryside Alliance
P.O Box 24, Poolesville, MD  20837
301-461-9831  •  ​[email protected]
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
MCA is proud to announce that we have been recognized for a third time as one of the best small charities in the D.C. region by Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. A panel of 110 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer non-profit organizations evaluated 270 applications.

​MCA is known as an effective and innovative non-profit whose efforts to preserve and promote Montgomery County’s nationally recognized 93,000 acre Ag Reserve have brought increased public and governmental support of local food production and farmland and open space preservation. Most importantly, MCA’s efforts are putting more farmers on the ground and keeping them there.
COPYRIGHT © MONTGOMERY COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 2008