Note from the Director...
Welcome to the first edition of the Maryland Energy
Administration's e-newsletter. This newsletter will keep
you informed of MEA's efforts to promote affordable,
reliable and clean energy in Maryland.
In this edition, you will find information about
Governor O'Malley's new initiative, EmPOWER Maryland,
designed to help us take control of our energy future.
The goal is ambitious - 15 in 15; a 15 percent reduction
in per capita electricity consumption statewide by 2015.
Unveiling a 7 point plan to help state and local
governments lead by example, the EmPOWER Maryland
initiative will save 25 billion kilowatt hours - enough
to provide electricity to over 75% of Maryland
households for a year. EmPOWER Maryland will not just
reduce load growth; it will actually reduce overall
statewide consumption and save Marylander's an estimated
$1.8 billion over the next eight years. Framed
differently, EmPOWER Maryland will save enough
electricity to avoid the need for 2 large (500 MW) coal
power plants.
The issue also includes information regarding the
Governor's Energy Summit, scheduled on July 25. The
Summit will bring together the best minds from around
the state and the nation to discuss with the Governor
policy options for incentivizing energy efficiency,
promoting clean electricity generation, and restoring a
fair energy marketplace in Maryland.
Finally, this e-newsletter highlights recent MEA
activities, including upcoming grant and loan
opportunities.
Please let us know if you have suggestions for enhancing
the effectiveness of this e-newsletter. Thanks - and I
look forward to working with you in coming months!
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Governor O'Malley
Announces...
 New Energy Efficiency Goals for State
Government
Governor Launches “EmPOWER Maryland” Initiative
Governor Martin O’Malley announced new energy
efficiency goals for the State of Maryland to save
taxpayers money, reduce stress on Maryland’s energy
markets, and improve the environment. Under the “EmPOWER
Maryland” initiative, the State of Maryland will reduce
energy consumption by 15 percent by the year 2015.
“Today, I am proud to announce the ‘EmPOWER Maryland’
initiative to reduce power consumption in Maryland 15%
by the year 2015,” said Governor Martin O’Malley.
“Maryland has been lagging behind other states like
California, but now it’s time to lead. The state of
Maryland will be doing everything possible to improve
energy efficiency in state buildings, reduce costs, and
save taxpayers dollars.”
The “EmPOWER Maryland” initiative also contains seven
steps to help State government reduce power consumption
15% by 2015.
Read More...
Fact Sheets /
Charts
Maryland
Energy Summit
Summit Will Bring Best, Brightest Minds Together to
Find Solutions
Just one day after releasing the “EmPOWER Maryland”
initiative to reduce Statewide energy consumption 15% by
2015, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the Maryland
Energy Summit.
This summit, to be held on July 25, 2007, will bring
together community leaders, academic experts, government
officials, industry regulators, and business executives
to discuss a strategic energy policy. The discussion
will include the best ways to reduce statewide energy
consumption through energy efficiency and to address our
needs for future generation facilities and transmission
line upgrades. By creating a forum for an honest, open
discussion, Maryland will take the first key steps to
establish a plan for affordable, reliable, clean energy.
“As a state, we have to look at all of our options –
improving efficiency, enhancing infrastructure, and
bolstering accountability – and we have to act,” said
Governor O’Malley. “With the Maryland Energy Summit, we
will bring together the leading experts on energy
throughout our state to help us find the solutions to
create a stable, sustainable future.”
Read More...
MEA Program Highlights...
Maryland Rebuild America Schools Program – Lesson of
the Month
Energy Managers face numerous challenges implementing
energy efficiency improvements. While the Maryland
Energy Administration seeks to provide technical
resources to school districts through the Maryland
Rebuild America Schools Program, many of these
challenges are not technical in nature. Often the
biggest hurdle is how to best implement those technical
changes within budgetary constraints and while
minimizing disruptions to staff and students. Creating
an educational plan and involving staff and students in
your energy management program can produce energy
savings. These individuals are often your biggest
un-tapped resource. A good energy manager will devote
20% of their time to working with staff rather than just
putting up posters.
Creating energy coordinator positions
in each school is a good way to start. This diverse
group of individuals can develop innovative
suggestions, program improvements, and better
participation within the school. Recognizing the support
and the achievements of these individuals should be a
priority. Selecting a “Coordinator of the Month” or
awarding certificates of achievement are low-cost ways
to let your coordinators know that they are valued. In
addition, allow these coordinators to take ownership of
the energy reduction strategies that they implement.
Successful implementation should be shared and promoted
throughout the district.
For more information about energy management strategies,
please contact Jenefer Russum, CEM at
jrussum@energy.state.md.us.
The next roundtable for school Energy Managers is
planned for mid-August.
Maryland Wind Working Group Forms Steering Committee
The Maryland Wind Working Group has rolled up its
sleeves since its reconvening back in December 2006. In
February, it distributed a
one-pager to State
legislators to inform them of the benefits and barriers
to wind energy development in Maryland.
MEA recently invited wind industry stakeholders to
participate in a Steering Committee for the Maryland
Wind Working Group. This Committee will serve as advisor
to MEA, formulate and implement a strategic plan, as
well as keep each other and the MWWG as whole apprised
of the latest information. With MEA as the chair of the
Committee, initial appointments include:
Steering Committee
- Eric Coffman, Montgomery County Department of
Environmental Protection
- Brad Heavner, Environment Maryland
- Pat McMillan, Department of Agriculture
- John Quinn, Constellation Energy
- Kevin Rackstraw, Clipper Wind
- Dick Schafer, Public Service Commission
- John Sherwell, MD Department of Natural
Resources
- Gary Skulnik, Clean Energy Partnership
Other key participants include Mikhail Ratushny
(Public Service Commission), Elmer Dengler (Natural
Resources Conservation Service), an Oguz and Hilkat
Soysal (Frostburg State University).
The Committee’s first task will be to identify its
goals, objectives, and various action items to draft a
strategic plan for the State. A kick-off meeting was
held on June 15 to begin the brainstorming. All MWWG
members are welcome to contribute to this plan.
For more information about MWWG or if you would like to
contribute to the drafting of the strategic plan,
contact Crissy Godfrey at 410.260.7190 or
cgodfrey@energy.state.md.us.
Maryland’s Ronald McDonald House
Receives Gifts of Energy Efficiency
 Maryland's Ronald McDonald House Baltimore hosts over
1,500 families a year, who make this house their home
while their children undergo medical treatment at nearby
hospitals. In 2005, the Partnership for Advancing
Technology in Housing (PATH) and D&R International
conducted an initial energy audit, revealing that the
house used about twice as much energy as buildings of a
similar size and type usually require. The Maryland
Energy Administration (MEA) verified that estimate in a
more detailed energy audit later in the year, conducted
by EMO Energy Solutions.
Teaming with the U.S. Department of Energy, PATH, and 22
partners who donated products and services, MEA then
launched a project to upgrade the energy efficiency of
the 24-year-old building. The project will significantly
cut energy bills, improve comfort, and serve as a model
for other Ronald McDonald Houses around the world.
Read more...
Governor O'Malley Announces New Head of the Maryland
Energy Administration
 On June 5, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the
appointment of Malcolm D. Woolf as Director of the
Maryland Energy Administration. An energy expert with
experience at the national level and in the private
sector, Woolf will lead the MEA in its role to make
Maryland more energy efficient, lower costs for
consumers, and protect Maryland’s environment from
power-related pollutants.
“I am proud to appoint Malcolm Woolf to lead the
Maryland Energy Administration,” said Governor O’Malley.
“We can allow ourselves to be taxed by circumstances -
like higher energy prices - or we can take charge of our
own destiny. Malcolm is a nationally-recognized energy
expert, and he will protect Marylanders families by
making Maryland’s power system more efficient and
cost-effective.”…
See Office of the Governor’s
press release.
MEA Completes Phase I of Farm
Energy Audits
MEA along with partners initiated a pilot farm energy
audit program. An energy audit of twenty five farms on the eastern shore
identified
savings of over 470,000 kWh, more than 46,000 gallons of
propane, and approximately $300,000 of productivity
benefits annually. Phase Two of the pilot program is
targeted at Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick and
Carroll Counties.
For more information call Chris Rice at (410)
260-7207or email
crice@energy.state.md.us.
FSU Breaks Ground on Solar-Wind Demo Project
 Frostburg
State University’s (FSU) Wind-Solar Energy (WISE) system
harvested its first ray of sunshine into solar power at
3:10 PM on July 8. Big D Electric, a Cumberland based
company, installed the solar panels on the roof of the
Fuller House (19 Braddock Road) and prepared the
foundation for the wind turbine tower near the building.
Ten PV panels, totaling 2-kW, generated 16 kWh over its
first 24 hours. The 1.8-kW Skystream 3.7 wind turbine,
manufactured by Southwest Windpower, is scheduled to be
installed in early June. The completed project will be
unveiled at the Renewable Energy Symposium & Expo
September 14 -15 to be held at the Compton Science
Center at FSU.
For more information on this project or the Renewable
Energy Symposium & Expo, contact Crissy Godfrey at
410.260.7190 or
cgodfrey@energy.state.md.us.
Two Maryland Industrial Plants
Receive Energy Savings Assessments Through DOE’s Save
Energy Now Initiative
Northrop Grumman Corporation (Hanover, MD) and W. L.
Gore & Associates (Elkton, MD) were two of 200
industrial plants chosen to participate in the
Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now Initiative plant
assessments. This initiative primarily focuses on energy
intensive systems including process heating, steam,
pumps, fans and compressed air. The assessments will
identify specific recommendations for the plants to
achieve energy and natural gas savings. These two plants
are currently under review but the reports will be
posted on DOE’s website as they become available.
To learn more about this program, visit
www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow/ or
contact David Cronin at 410.260.7655 or
dcronin@energy.state.md.us.
Funding Opportunities...
Solar Grant Applications Accepted Through June 2008
MEA is pleased to announce that it will continue
accepting applications for solar energy grants under the
Solar Energy Grant Program. The program’s budget has
been approved and is funded through June of 2008. The
grants are available to residents, business, and local
governments and can be used to offset a portion of the
cost of either photovoltaic (solar electricity
generation) or solar water heating projects. The grants
are for 20 percent of your system cost in three
categories, each of which has a maximum allowable grant
amount:
- Solar Water Heating (SWH) grants can be up to
$2000;
- Residential Photovoltaic (PV) Solar grants can
be up to $3000; and
- Nonresidential Photovoltaic Solar grants can be
up to $5000.
For more information on solar energy opportunities,
visit the Maryland Energy Administration’s Solar Energy
Grant Program Web site at
www.energy.maryland.gov/programs/renewable/solargrant,
call 1-800-723-6374 or email
meainfo@energy.state.md.us.
Alternative Fuels Station
Grant Program
MEA has issued two RFPs for private gasoline stations
to convert one or more pumps to E85 (85% ethanol and 15%
petroleum gasoline) and or B20 (20% biodiesel and 80%
petroleum diesel). To date, MEA has signed four grant
contracts. They will bring more public pumps to Laurel
and Federalsburg in Caroline county.
For more information, contact Chris Rice at (410)
260-7207or email
crice@energy.state.md.us.
Clean Energy Production Tax Credits
The Clean Energy Incentive Tax Credit, enacted in
2006, offers Marylanders a state income tax credit for
electricity generated by qualified resources of 0.85
cents per kilo-watt hour, and 0.50 cents per kilo-watt
hour for electricity generated from co-firing a
qualified resource with coal. These credits can be
claimed over a period of five years.
This credit is available to individuals and corporations
that build and generate electricity from qualified
resources operational on or after January 1, 2006, but
before January 1, 2011.
For information or to apply, visit
www.energy.state.md.us/financial/renewable/cep_taxcredit.htm.
BP Solar Groundbreaking Ceremony
July 16, 2007 - Frederick, MD
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Stakeholders
Meeting
July 24, 2007 -- 10am – 1pm
Gubernatorial Energy Summit
July 25, 2007 -- (schedule TBD)
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Stakeholders
Meeting
August 2, 2007 -- 10am – 1pm
Renewable Energy Symposium & Expo
September 14-15, 2007 -- Frostburg State University
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