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Council hears support for reinstating geothermal tax credit to boost heat-pump adoption
Summary
Councilmember Christiana Rigby introduced CB17 to reinstate a county geothermal tax credit of up to $5,000 per household. Supporters, including residents who installed geothermal systems and climate advocates, said the credit helps make geothermal feasible despite high upfront drilling costs; opponents were not prominent at the hearing.
Councilmember Christiana Rigby introduced Council Bill 17-20-25, which would reinstate a Howard County property tax credit of up to $5,000 for residential geothermal energy system installations.
Supporters described geothermal heat pump systems as among the most energy-efficient commercially available home heating and cooling technologies and said the credit would help overcome the high upfront costs associated with geothermal boreholes. Phil Webster, a Howard County resident with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering who installed a geothermal system in 2022, told the council his household reduced gas use by nearly 40 percent after installation and described geothermal as "1 and a half to 2 times more efficient." (Phil Webster)
Another speaker, Justin Mullins, said contractor estimates for geothermal installations were typically $45,000'$60,000 for his modest house versus $13,000'$18,000 for a conventional air-source heat pump; he and others urged county-level assistance to close the affordability gap. Liz Feiner of HOCO Climate Action framed the credit as a climate and public-health intervention, citing statewide health costs associated with fossil-fuel heating and urging the council to act to expand options for gas-free homes.
Witnesses also noted existing state and federal incentives, including a federal investment tax credit for geothermal and utility rebates, and urged the council to coordinate the county credit with those programs. Several speakers referenced other Maryland counties that offer similar local incentives.
Councilmembers asked for follow-up on fiscal estimates and coordination with state/federal incentives; no final vote occurred at the public hearing.
Ending: The bill was introduced and supporters emphasized geothermal's role in county greenhouse-gas goals and household energy-bill reductions; the council requested additional fiscal information.
