Summer 2020 Agency Update

Maryland Energy Administration Announces $1 Million in Funding for Resilient Clean Energy Projects

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is pleased to announce awardees of the first ever Resilient Maryland program. This highly-competitive pilot program was developed in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) to drive economic growth through innovative clean energy technology, which will enable essential services, businesses and other organizations to resist power disruptions and outages. A total of 14 grant applications have been awarded $1.05 million dollars in funding. Click here to read more.

Montgomery Country Public Safety Headquarters microgrid. Photo credit Montgomery Country

Maryland Energy Administration Announces $1 Million in Funding for Resilient Clean Energy Projects

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is pleased to announce awardees of the first ever Resilient Maryland program. This highly-competitive pilot program was developed in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) to drive economic growth through innovative clean energy technology, which will enable essential services, businesses and other organizations to resist power disruptions and outages. A total of 14 grant applications have been awarded $1.05 million dollars in funding. Click here to read more.

Maryland Energy Administration support for grantees during COVID-19

MEA responds to grantee needs during COVID-19. Transitioning to all electronic applications plus grant ratification in combination with extending grant deadlines and loan deferments. For a list of all grants and MEA program managers who can assist, click here.

MEA will exhibit at Maryland Municipal League’s Virtual Conference June 29 – 30, 2020

Click here to visit our online booth now.

Click here for a special MEA MML video.

2020 Maryland Smart Energy Communities Awards

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is proud to announce over $750,000 in funding for 19 Maryland Smart Energy Community grantees in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). Distributed across the state, these energy projects stimulate economic growth and are estimated to yield an annual energy cost savings of $403,000. The estimated annual energy savings is 3,127,713 kilowatt-hours (kWh) which is enough energy to power 260 Maryland homes, read more here

Data Center Energy Efficiency grantee Kaiser Permanente upgrades Silver Spring Data Center to realize $228K in annual savings, read more details here.

Natural Gas is a Cleaner Cost-Effective Energy Source Fueling Economic Growth in Maryland

The first set of grant winners for the Maryland Energy Infrastructure Program (MEIP), Anchor Customer program have been awarded $1.5 million dollars. Awards went to a commercial organization in Baltimore City and two state government organizations in Somerset County. The expansion of natural gas means more local jobs which Governor Hogan cited as a priority for the state. Based on a 2016 study by Towson University, the construction of this energy project will support over 700 jobs on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore alone. To read more, click here.

Hurricanes can cause massive power outages throughout the state even if a storm does not directly hit Maryland. Updating your home emergency supply kit, and preparing now will help you keep safe even during a prolonged power outage.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published their 2020 pandemic guide for hurricane preparedness, urging everyone to take new precautions. Keeping surfaces clean is a new key element for safety. Click here for updated storm prep information.

The Hidden Energy Costs of Working from Home

If you find yourself working from home these days, you will probably notice a bigger utility bill at the end of the month. What used to be your employer’s cost of workplace heating and cooling, computer use, water heating, coffee makers and other conveniences are now your expense, read more here.

Tips to Tame Your Power-Hungry Refrigerator
Refrigerators are indispensable household appliances and one of the largest electricity-consuming devices in the home. If your electricity bill makes you wince, you may find relief in the way you select and operate your refrigerator. Get more info here.

Meg Cefail strikes the Each for Equal International Women’s Day

Women in Maryland Energy features Meg Cefail
Governor Hogan declared 2020 Year of the Woman. We will be featuring several Maryland women working in the energy industry exploring their STEM related career paths. We are pleased to share a profile on our grant administrator, Margaret “Meg” Cefail. Learn about Meg’s work and how she keeps MEA running smoothly, here.

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Explained
SREC may look like a typo to many people but for those in the energy industry, this acronym is a signal of cleaner and greener energy. Solar Renewable Energy Certificate or SREC are special incentives designed to encourage the adoption of solar energy. Read on to see why it is important, click here.

David Comis Wins American Solar Energy Society Award

David Comis, Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Program Manager is being awarded the Rebecca Vories Award by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). This award honors those whose volunteer efforts on behalf of the society have significantly advanced ASES’s ability to meet its mission, read more here.

Thinking about adding solar panels to your home? We can help – The Maryland Energy Administration and the Clean Energy States Alliance developed a Maryland Consumers Guide to Solar, to serve as a resource for Maryland residents considering home solar photovoltaic systems. Solar PV systems are expected to have lifetimes of 25 years or more, it is important for residents to have a good understanding of all aspects of the decision to “go solar.”  Too much info? Here is a quick guide for solar questions if you are just starting to explore solar for your home.