EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program

What is the program?

What projects are eligible?

How do I apply?

The program finances energy efficiency projects that benefit low-to-moderate income Marylanders. Grant funds will be awarded competitively within the applicant pool for each respective county.

For more information, read our Goals and Incentives.

Non-profits, local governments, and homeowner/condominium associations serving low-to-moderate income Maryland households.

For more information, see our Project Requirements.

First, download and review the FY13 EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Grant Program Instructions.

Then, download, and submit an electronic copy of the FY13 EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Grant Program Application to EmPOWER@energy.state.md.us by Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.  Applications are no longer being accepted for fiscal year 2013.

For more information, see How to Apply.

Goals and Incentives

As part of the overall EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities program, the EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program finances energy efficiency projects that benefit low-to-moderate income Marylanders. Eligible non-profits, local governments, and home owner/condominium associations can apply for grant funding in order to execute energy efficiency projects that benefit low-to-moderate income Maryland households.

For fiscal year 2013 (FY13), the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has $2.575 million in EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income grant funds available. In order to ensure an equitable funding distribution, each Maryland county (or county equivalent) has been appropriated an allocation of EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities grant funds based on the number of low-to-moderate income households residing in the respective county (or county equivalent). Grant funds will be awarded competitively within the applicant pool for each respective county.

County Allocations

County Allocation County Allocation
Allegany $43,500 Harford $86,500
Anne Arundel $173,500 Howard $72,000
Baltimore City $368,500 Kent $30,000
Baltimore County $366,000 Montgomery $371,000
Calvert $33,000 Prince George’s $407,000
Caroline $30,000 Queen Anne’s $30,000
Carroll $54,000 St. Mary’s $43,500
Cecil $41,000 Somerset $30,000
Charles $55,500 Talbot $30,000
Dorchester $30,000 Washington $71,000
Frederick $101,000 Wicomico $48,000
Garrett $30,000 Worcester $30,000

Conference Call

MEA will hold three conference calls to review the details of the EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant program. MEA recommends that all applicants participate in one of these conference calls. Conference calls will be held on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 11th at 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 20th at 10 AM

If you are interested in participating in one of the conference calls, please RSVP to Jenn Gallicchio at jgallicchio@energy.state.md.us. Conference call dial-in information will then be emailed to you.

Conference Call Presentation

Project Requirements

Eligible Income Levels

Households benefitting from the EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program must have incomes that are 85 percent or less of the median income limit established for the County where the grant activities are occurring. 

    Reporting

    All grantees will be expected to submit progress reports on a monthly basis.  A copy of the proposed monthly grant reporting form is attached below.  When developing your application, please be sure to consider how you plan to collect the energy reporting metrics that will be required for grant reimbursement.

  • DRAFT - Monthly grant reporting form for FY13

How to Apply

Prior to completing a grant application, each applicant should first review the FY13 EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Grant Program instructions.  The instructions contain a detailed overview of the eligibility requirements of the program, as well as reporting and invoicing requirements:

To be considered for fiscal year 2013 funding, all EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program applications need to be submitted to MEA on or before Wednesday, Oct. 17.  Applications should be submitted electronically to EmPOWER@energy.state.md.us.

Previous Awardees

As part  of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created a calculator ("ARRA calculator") to help estimate energy savings.  This calculator provides an estimate of energy savings.  MEA is using the ARRA calculator to provide an "apples to apples" comparison of each of the proposed EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities low-to-moderate income grant projects.  The ARRA calculator does not replace engineering or contractor provided energy estimates.  If you have alternative energy savings calculations, please provide these energy savings estimates to MEA as well, clearly outlining all assumptions.

Additional Information

        Questions related to the EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Grant Program can be directed to Jenn Gallicchio at jgallicchio@energy.state.md.us or 410-260-7542.