Frederick and Prince George’s counties were two of the 24 jurisdictions selected nationally to receive funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. 

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $18.5 million to four states and 20 local governments for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. These projects, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help advance state and local governments’ efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution, and lower overall energy use.

Governments receiving awards this month will use program funds to conduct energy assessments and efficiency upgrades at community centers and schools, install solar panels on municipal facilities, develop climate and energy plans, advance local recycling initiatives, launch building electrification campaigns for individual households, and more.

Announced in June:

Prince George’s County, MD will advance its Climate Action Plan through two activities. First, the county will develop a residential rooftop solar incentive program that provides rebates ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to 30 households. To ensure these funds reach residents who have historically lacked access to solar energy systems, the county will create a targeted outreach and marketing campaign. Second, the county will benchmark 40 county buildings and complete investment-grade energy assessments on priority facilities using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager online tool. This project will follow key activities from EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Energy Audits and Building Upgrades. (Award amount: $681,220)

Frederick County, MD will conduct targeted outreach to share information about energy efficiency and conservation strategies and low- to moderate-income (LMI) programs, such as Power Saver Retrofits and the Weatherization Assistance Program. The target population for this project is at least 200 LMI households that are designated as environmental justice and underserved communities. The county will also provide a rebate to offset the cost for the purchase and installation of ENERGY STAR appliances for 50 LMI households, with priority given to EJ communities. (Award amount: $81,250)

Previous Awardees:

Baltimore County, MD will retain a technical consultant to create a decarbonization plan and rooftop solar feasibility assessments for county buildings. The county will also perform LED retrofits in 10-15 municipal buildings. (Award amount: $712,040)

Howard County, MD will conduct stakeholder engagement to collect feedback on future state-building energy performance standards and local stretch codes, resident barriers to electrification and public EV charging, and workforce development needs. The county will also perform energy audits on government buildings and promote an existing “Solar for All” program. (Award amount: $326,870)

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At the 2024 MACo Summer Conference general session, “A Brighter Tomorrow – The Future of Maryland Energy Policy,” MACo invites the preeminent energy leaders in Annapolis to discuss their views on the next few decades ahead.