Sec. 14.26.04.02. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) “Administration” means Maryland Energy Administration.

(2) “Applicant” means a homeowner, business, nonprofit organization, or State or local government that has applied directly or through an installation contractor to the Administration for a Clean Energy Grant.

(3) Clean Energy Conversion Systems.

(a) “Clean energy conversion system” means a commercially available technology or system included in a notice of grant availability issued pursuant to Regulation .09 of this chapter that converts renewable energy resources into electric or thermal energy for use in a home or building.

(b) “Clean energy conversion system” includes:

(i) Solar electric photovoltaics technologies that convert sunshine into electricity;

(ii) Solar thermal technologies that convert sunshine into hot water or steam;

(iii) Solar thermal generation technologies that convert sunshine into electricity;

(iv) Wind technologies that convert wind into electricity;

(v) Geothermal heating and cooling technologies that convert thermal energy stored in the earth into heating, cooling, or hot water;

(vi) Bioenergy technologies that convert biomass and/or solid wastes into electricity, hot water, or steam;

(vii) Energy systems that utilize biofuels, synthetic gas, or similar renewable resources to provide heat or electricity to eligible buildings or homes; and

(viii) Other technologies that convert other renewable or clean sources of energy that the Administration determines are affordable and reliable means of serving a local load for a single-family home, building, or residential unit of a building.

(4) “Clean Energy Grant” means an amount of money determined by the Administration pursuant to Regulation .08 of this chapter and offered to assist a homeowner, business, nonprofit organization, or State or local government to cover all or a portion of the cost of a clean energy conversion system.

(5) “Commercial Clean Energy Grant” means a Clean Energy Grant issued for a clean energy conversion system installed on a:

(a) Nonresidential property with a commercial, industrial, or government use;

(b) Mixed used facility where the clean energy conversion system is installed to cover the load of one or more commercial units or the load of at least one residential unit and one commercial unit; or

(c) Multifamily property where the clean energy conversion system is owned or leased by the owner of the multifamily property and installed to cover the load of two or more residential units.

(6) “Fund” means the Strategic Energy Investment Fund and the portfolio of programs administered by the Administration under the provisions of State Government Article, §9-20B-05, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(7) “Homeowner” means an individual or individuals that hold legal or equitable title to a residential property located in the State.

(8) “Innovative clean energy conversion system” means a technology or system not included in a notice of grant availability issued pursuant to Regulation .09 of this chapter that converts renewable energy resources into electric or thermal energy.

(9) “Installation contractor” means a business under contract with a homeowner, nonprofit organization, State or local government, or another business for the development, installation, or financing of a purchased or leased clean energy conversion system.

(10) “Local government” means a political subdivision of the State.

(11) “Mixed use facility” means a building containing one or more residential units and one or more commercial units.

(12) “Nonprofit organization” means a legal entity which is exempt from taxation under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

(13) “Nonresidential property” means property that has a primary purpose other than serving as a residence.

(14) “Primary residence” means an applicant’s principal place of habitation.

(15) “Project” means a clean energy conversion system or assemblage of clean energy conversion systems and related systems and installation components that operate in a coordinated manner, which may or may not be connected to a power distribution grid.

(16) “Project configuration” means the manner in which a clean energy conversion system is designed, sized, configured, and installed to serve eligible buildings and facilities.

(17) “Residential Clean Energy Grant” means a Clean Energy Grant issued for a clean energy conversion system installed on a:

(a) Residential property where the clean energy conversion system is installed to cover the load of only the residential property on which the clean energy conversation system is installed; or

(b) Multifamily property or mixed use facility where the clean energy conversion system is installed to cover the load of only one residential unit of the multifamily property or mixed use facility on which the clean energy conversion system in installed.

(18) Residential Property.

(a) “Residential property” means property, including a single-family home and an individual unit of a multifamily property or mixed use facility, that has the purpose of serving as a primary residence.

(b) “Residential property” includes a property with a home office.

(19) “Residential unit” means an individual unit of a mixed used facility or multifamily property that has the purpose of serving as a primary residence.