Electricity rate as of 2026-06-01. Sun hours: NREL PVWatts, Montgomery County fixed tilt annual average. Cost per watt: EnergySage June 2026, Silver Spring, Montgomery County. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.

Net metering in Silver Spring

Pepco full retail 1:1 net metering per Maryland law (Senate Bill 65, protected through at least 2028). Pepco Maryland residential schedule: 13.25 cents/kWh through May 31, 2026. Credits roll forward month to month indefinitely. Annual excess settled at avoided cost approximately $0.05 to $0.07/kWh. Pepco interconnection: 6 to 12 weeks after installation. The Utility RELIEF Act limits near-term impact of the 23% distribution rate increase Pepco/BGE filed in 2025. SREC income from solar production adds $40 to $75 per SREC (1 SREC = 1 MWh). Qualified per Pepco MD residential tariff as of June 2026.

Available programs

Solar incentives in Silver Spring, MD for 2026

Incentives available in MD

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).

Active solar incentives in MD
Program	Benefit	Eligibility	Status	Source
Montgomery County Solar Permit Fee Waiver Local/State Incentive	Solar permits are issued at $0 fee in Montgomery County. Both building and electrical permits waived simultaneously through eSolar. Confirmed in April 2026 Montgomery County AllFees.pdf.	All Montgomery County solar permit applicants who qualify through the eSolar instant permit system.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Capital Area Solar Switch Together 2026 Local/State Incentive Funding is limited. Verify availability before signing.	Group co-op purchasing with average savings of $6,000+ on a typical install through competitively bid pricing. Optional EV charger and battery storage add-ons available. 2026 co-op round open through July 15, 2026. Rockville city webinar held June 4, 2026. Refer to rockvillemd.gov for city participation details.	Montgomery County and Prince George's County residents. Register at SwitchTogether.com/Solar/CapitalArea.	Limited	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Montgomery County Green Bank Community Solar (Paddington Square) Local/State Incentive	Community solar subscription at Paddington Square Apartments project in Silver Spring for residents without rooftop access. Monthly bill credits without panel ownership.	Montgomery County residents without suitable rooftops: renters, condo owners, and homeowners with shaded or structurally limited roofs.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Maryland SREC Market (1.5x Multiplier Through January 2028) Local/State Incentive	$40 to $75 per SREC; 1.5x multiplier for certified systems installed July 2024 through January 2028. A 9 kW Silver Spring system generates 9 to 11 SRECs/year worth $360 to $825/year. SREC prices are market-dependent. Verify current price at flettexchange.com.	All Maryland grid-tied residential solar systems.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Maryland Sales and Use Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive	6% tax exemption on solar equipment and installation. Saves approximately $1,426 on a typical Silver Spring system.	All Maryland solar purchases. Automatic; no application required.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Maryland Property Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive	Solar added value excluded from property assessment statewide.	All Maryland homeowners with solar.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Pepco EmPOWER Maryland Local/State Incentive	Heat pump and insulation rebates up to $10,000+ (Pepco-administered). Bundle with solar for a whole-home energy upgrade.	Pepco residential customers in Montgomery County.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)

Data last verified June 29, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.

California property-tax exclusion sunsets December 31, 2026. Solar systems installed and permitted by December 31, 2026 lock in the exclusion for the life of the system under current California law (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73). Systems installed in 2027 may not qualify if the Legislature does not extend the exemption. Verify current legislative status at ftb.ca.gov before signing a contract.

Why Silver Spring homeowners are moving now

After the January 2025 wildfires, battery storage became a priority

Montgomery County is Maryland's highest-adoption and best-permitting solar jurisdiction. The eSolar instant permit system means a Montgomery County homeowner can have both building and electrical permits in their email inbox on the same day they submit plans - for $0 in permit fees. The county has run continuous group-buy co-ops since 2015 (Capital Area Solar Switch Together, formerly Capital Area Solar Co-op), and the 2026 round closed July 15, 2026. Maryland's 1:1 net metering protection runs through 2028 under Senate Bill 65 but faces PSC review; Pepco customers who install before the review window lock in full retail credits. The Stewart Avenue industrial site in Silver Spring hosts an active 412 kW community solar project developed by the Montgomery County Green Bank specifically for residents without rooftop access.

Source: Montgomery County Green Bank Paddington Square / Stewart Avenue 412 kW community solar project (Silver Spring) (2026).

Illustrative example

What does a typical Silver Spring solar system actually cost and save?

Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-29. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.

System inputs

System size: 9 kW
Gross cost ($2.64/W): $23,760
Federal residential credit: $0 (expired Dec 31, 2025)
Montgomery County $0 permit fee (solar permit waived): Applied
Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op pricing (average $6,000+ savings): Applied
MD 6% sales tax exemption (saves approximately $1,426): Applied
Maryland SREC income $40 to $75/SREC for 9 to 11 SRECs/year: Applied
Estimated net cost: $16,334

Estimated outcomes

Annual savings range: $1,200 to $1,900
Estimated payback: 8.5 years

A 9 kW system at $2.64/W grosses $23,760. Zero federal residential credit applies (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Montgomery County's combination of $0 permit fees and the Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op average savings of $6,000+ brings net cost to approximately $16,334 before SREC income. SREC income of $360 to $825/year adds ongoing value. Maryland 1:1 net metering is protected through at least 2028. The 14-cent Pepco rate means the absolute annual savings are more modest than higher-rate cities, but the low system cost and $0 permitting create an attractive upfront economics profile.

Run the savings calculator for your specific address

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Neighborhoods we serve

Solar in Silver Spring: high-adoption areas, equity zones, and post-fire demand corridors

High-adoption neighborhoods

Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.

Downtown Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Four Corners
Wheaton
Aspen Hill

Equity program target areas

Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.

Langley Park
Long Branch
White Oak

Post-fire and growth corridors

Wildfire-affected and adjacent neighborhoods where battery storage demand surged following the January 2025 fires. Rebuilding homeowners and proximate neighbors with elevated grid-resilience priorities.

Colesville
Burtonsville
Olney

LOCAL INSTALL PHOTO -- SILVER SPRING -- TO BE PROVIDED

Permitting and interconnection

How solar permitting works in Silver Spring

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Permit office: Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS), eSolar instant permit program
SolarAPP+ status: SolarAPP+: Instant approval
Permit fee: Solar permit fees are WAIVED ($0) in Montgomery County, confirmed in the April 2026 county fee schedule (AllFees.pdf). Montgomery County's eSolar program integrates directly with SolarAPP+ for instant residential permit issuance. Qualified projects receive both building and electrical permits simultaneously in minutes once the automated eligibility check passes. Montgomery County was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to earn SolSmart Platinum designation. Projects approved through eSolar pass final inspection at a 30% higher rate than traditional route.
Typical contract-to-energization: 8 to 14 weeks (permit issued same-day via eSolar, Pepco interconnection 6-12 weeks)

We handle the permit and interconnection filings

LADBS permit application and plan set preparation
SolarAPP+ submission for qualifying systems
LADWP or SCE interconnection application
Inspection coordination and utility sign-off
Certificate of Completion delivery to homeowner

Silver Spring has a denser urban character than Rockville, with more apartment buildings, condos, and row-style townhomes. For residents without suitable rooftops, the Montgomery County Green Bank developed the Paddington Square community solar project (412 kW on Stewart Avenue industrial site) specifically as a local subscription option. Community solar subscribers receive monthly bill credits without owning panels.

Your local Silver Spring advisor

One advisor. No door-knockers. No shared leads.

Serving Silver Spring and surrounding MD communities

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Four Corners, Silver Spring REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Four Corners homeowner praising Montgomery County's instant eSolar permit at $0 fee and Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op savings]

System: 9 kW rooftop solar, Pepco, Montgomery County eSolar $0 permit

Aspen Hill, Silver Spring area REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Aspen Hill homeowner with SREC income details and Montgomery County $0 permit experience]

System: 10 kW rooftop solar, Pepco, Maryland SREC 1.5x multiplier

Wheaton, Silver Spring area REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Wheaton homeowner describing co-op pricing savings and Pepco 1:1 net metering through 2028]

System: 8.5 kW rooftop solar, Pepco, Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op

For business owners and property managers

Commercial Solar in Silver Spring and Montgomery County

Montgomery County's $0 solar permit and instant eSolar system, Pepco commercial net metering, and the 1.5x SREC multiplier through January 2028 make it one of Maryland's best commercial solar jurisdictions. The federal Section 48E commercial credit applies to projects starting construction by July 4, 2026. The Montgomery County Green Bank actively finances clean energy commercial projects including the 412 kW community solar installation at the Stewart Avenue industrial site in Silver Spring.

See commercial solar options

Commercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.

Schedule a Free Commercial Assessment

Silver Spring solar questions

What Silver Spring homeowners ask

City-specific answers. Every number references your utility and your permit office.

How does Montgomery County's instant solar permit work?

Montgomery County's eSolar program issues solar permits in minutes via SolarAPP+. Both the building permit and electrical permit are issued simultaneously through the eSolar portal once the automated eligibility check passes and (zero) fees are confirmed. Montgomery County was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to earn SolSmart Platinum designation for its solar energy actions. Projects approved through eSolar pass final inspection at a 30% higher rate than the traditional review route. After permit issuance, Pepco interconnection takes 6 to 12 weeks.

What is the Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op?

Capital Area Solar Switch Together is a group purchasing co-op for Montgomery County and Prince George's County residents. By combining purchases, participants access competitively bid installation pricing and save an average of $6,000+ on a typical system compared to individually negotiated quotes. The 2026 co-op round was open through July 15, 2026. Check SwitchTogether.com/Solar/CapitalArea for the status of the next enrollment round and rockvillemd.gov for Rockville city participation.

What if I rent or own a condo in Silver Spring - can I still benefit from solar?

Yes, through community solar. The Montgomery County Green Bank developed the Paddington Square community solar project in Silver Spring, and the 412 kW Stewart Avenue industrial site project is an active community solar installation. Renters and condo owners can subscribe for monthly bill credits without owning or installing panels. Maryland Community Solar has been a permanent program since January 1, 2025 and is available to all Pepco customers.

Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The Section 25D residential federal solar credit expired December 31, 2025. Maryland and Montgomery County incentives remain active: SREC income ($40 to $75/SREC with 1.5x multiplier through January 2028), the 6% sales tax exemption, the property tax exemption, and the $0 permit fee with instant eSolar approval. The Capital Area Solar Switch Together co-op provides additional group-negotiated savings when open.

More solar resources for Maryland:

Maryland solar guide All cities

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Silver Spring Solar Installation 2026