Featured Grant: Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentives

by Caitlin Madera, C&I Energy Program Manager

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) provides energy efficiency incentives for commercial & industrial (“C&I”) entities to:

• Help achieve the energy efficiency goals stipulated by the EmPOWER Maryland legislation.
• Reduce operating costs for Maryland’s commercial entities.
• Optimize the energy commercial entities consume.
• Drive the development of innovative energy technologies with verified potential.

The C&I program began in 2014 as an electricity reduction program, open to Maryland businesses, nonprofit organizations, manufacturers, industrial entities, community colleges, and private schools/universities. Including the current Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19), the C&I program has provided a total of over $12 million in grants for a wide array of recipients for measures that reduce annual electricity consumption by more than 53 million kilowatt-hours(kWh).

Up to $1.245 million dollars in total funding was available in FY19, distributed through three program tiers:

• Tier 1 – Corresponds to 15% – 20% reduction in overall electricity usage. Incentive Level: Up to 30% of net total project cost, or $150,000, whichever is lower;
• Tier 2 – Corresponds to 20.1% – 25% reduction in overall electricity usage. Incentive Level: Up to 40% of net total project cost, or $175,000, whichever is lower; or,
• Tier 3 – Corresponds to 25.1%+ reduction in overall electricity usage. Incentive Level: Up to 50% of net total project cost, or $200,000, whichever is lower.

The thirteen grant winners for the FY19 C&I program were spread across the central part of the State and Maryland’s Eastern Shore as see in the map below. The estimated annual energy cost savings is $829,093 and the projected annual energy savings are 7,313,512 kilowatt-hours; which is equivalent to powering over 700 homes for a full year.

For more details about the FY19 C&I awards, please click here

For a complete listing of FY19 award winners, please click here