Maryland County Considers Rooftop Solar Requirement on New Homes

Proposed legislation may lead to mandatory rooftop solar panels on all new single-family homes in Montgomery County, Md. The populous suburban Washington, D.C., county would be the first major jurisdiction outside of California to adopt such a policy.

The bill may also put a solar requirement on apartments and commercial buildings. If adopted, the regulation would go into effect in 2022. Critics say that such a mandate is an inefficient way to boost renewable energy, could detract from more significant energy-saving policies, and could slow construction while raising housing costs.

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