Maryland Energy Administration Announces $10 Million Funding Awards for Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Maryland’s Low and Moderate Income Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jahmai Sharp-Moore | 443-694-3651

Baltimore, MD – Today Governor Larry Hogan announced awards for the FY2017 Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income grant program. The program assists local governments and not-for-profit organizations to fund energy efficiency projects that are specifically designed to benefit low to moderate income Marylanders. This award of $10 million for energy efficiency improvements engages local businesses and improves the health and comfort of an estimated 3,200 Maryland households while lowering utility bills. The grants are administered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), and will help these Maryland households save an estimated 5,300 MWH of electricity each year. The energy saved from this program is enough to power nearly 500 homes for a full year. The energy conservation measures for this State program will save an estimated $700,000 annually for Maryland residents.

“These grants will improve energy efficiency while putting hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the pockets of Maryland citizens who need it the most,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our administration is proud to support this program and the positive impact it will have on Maryland’s families and businesses,” said Governor Hogan.

“Reducing utility bills for low income Maryland residents, while simultaneously supporting local businesses, and nonprofits is a perfect collaboration for the State,” said Mary Beth Tung, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “The long-term energy efficiency measures put in place by these grants, improve the quality of life for our citizens. We are proud to see this program advance, providing the highest level of financial support to date,” said Director Tung.

This grant will enable projects to be funded in all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Grantees will use the funds to install energy efficiency measures for senior housing, homeless shelters and residential homes. Each Maryland county and Baltimore City was initially provided an allocation based on the number of low-to-moderate income households residing in the respective area. The official list of grants awarded can be found here: MEA Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Program Fiscal Year 2017 Awards. Funding for the program comes from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which was created from public auctions of carbon credits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. For more information on the program please visit: http://energy.maryland.gov/govt/Pages/CleanEnergyLMI.aspx

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Maryland Energy Administration On behalf of Governor Hogan the mission of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is to promote affordable, reliable and cleaner energy for the benefit of all Marylanders.  To achieve its mission, MEA advises the Governor, General Assembly on matters relating to energy policy.  MEA administers grant and loan programs to encourage clean energy technologies in all sectors of Maryland’s economy: Residential, Commercial, Agricultural, and Transportation. For more information about the Maryland Energy Administration, visit www.energy.maryland.gov.