Maryland Energy Administration

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New Construction

iStock-2157384122.jpg A new construction or gut rehab project is often the best time to explore efficient, electric, and renewable energy options. An integrated design process that couples deep energy efficiency and right-sized mechanical equipment can lead to lower-cost, healthier, and more comfortable buildings.

The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, empowers Maryland’s building owners to make well-informed energy investments in their properties by connecting them to financial, educational, and technical assistance. Sign-up for the Hub newsletter here. Have questions? Contact [email protected].

​ Incentives​

The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub is committed to help building owners and operators understand the range of incentives for which they may qualify. Maryland’s developers can tap into a range of state, federal, utility, and local incentives to help defray the costs of energy efficiency, electrification, or onsite renewable energy measures for new buildings. 

State Programs:
Review State programs, such as from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development​ (DHCD)​, and the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) that help Maryland commercial buildings decarbonize.

MEA's Commercial & Industrial Grant Program: This program provides eligible commercial buildings funding for cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation upgrades for existing, major renovation, and new construction projects that are above minimum code and performance standards and claim at least 20% energy savings.
MEA's Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program: This program provides low-interest financing for cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation projects in commercial buildings.
MEA's Residential Energy Equity Grant Program: Provides geothermal heating and cooling system (“GHC system”) rebates for Maryland residents on Maryland residential properties. Single-family detached homes and single-family townhomes are eligible. Multi-family properties are not eligible.
MEA’s Geothermal Rebate Program: This program provides grants for installing mechanical insulation in industrial and commercial facilities to reduce energy waste, thereby enabling energy-saving improvements to large-scale thermal distribution networks.
Maryland DHCD’s Net Zero Loan Program: Net Zero homes are energy efficient homes that produce as much or more energy than they will use. The DHCD supports the construction of Net Zero homes throughout Maryland.
MCEC’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): A statewide program that provides turn-key, low cost, standardized C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) program services to property owners, capital providers, contractors, and local governments in the state of Maryland.
MCEC’s Maryland Clean Energy Capital (MCAP): Provides long-term financing solutions for funding large projects - offers clean energy and efficiency financing to government, institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Federal Programs:​
Explore federal programs that are available to help support the implementation of building decarbonization upgrades at commercial buildings.

Sec. 45L Zero Energy Ready Homes Tax Credit: Builders of qualified new energy efficient homes (single-family and manufactured) may be eligible for the 45L tax credit. To earn the tax credit, homes must participate in the ENERGY STAR Single Family New Homes Program or the ENERGY STAR Manufactured New Homes Program. This tax credit will expire on July 1, 2026.
Sec. 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction: New and existing commercial and multifamily buildings that demonstrate a 25% to 50% improvement from their pre-retrofit baseline EUI may be able to claim a tax deduction. This tax deduction shall not apply to properties for which construction begins after June 30, 2026.

Local Programs:
Explore local programs that help support the implementation of building decarbonization upgrades at commercial buildings.

Anne Arundel County Geothermal Tax Credit: Anne Arundel County has enacted several local property tax credits for the benefit of the owners of real property located within our jurisdiction. These local property tax credits reduce the liability for your County property taxes.
Anne Arundel County Solar Tax Credit: There is a one‐time tax credit from County real property taxes levied on residential dwellings that use solar energy devices installed on or after January 1, 2007. “Solar Energy Equipment” means collectors, photovoltaic arrays, solar panels, storage tanks, and all other hardware that is necessary and used as a part of the operating mechanism that collects, stores, generates or distributes energy by using the rays of the sun.
Baltimore City High-Performance Newly Constructed Dwellings Property Tax Credit: Please click the link to learn more about Baltimore City property tax credits for new construction dwellings.
Harford County Solar & Geothermal Tax Credit: Provides a 20% tax credit for a maximum of 20 years, on county property taxes for individuals who are over 65 years of age, have a dwelling with an assessed value of $600,000 or less, and who either own and have lived in the dwelling for at least 35 years or are a retiree or surviving spouse of a retiree of the United States’ Uniformed Services who has not remarried.
Montgomery County Energy Efficient Buildings Property Tax Credit: A two-tiered incentive of property tax credits for new and existing energy-efficient commercial and multi-family buildings.
Prince George’s County Solar & Geothermal Residential Property Tax Credit: Please click the link to learn more about Prince George's County solar and geothermal residential property tax credits.

​Utility Programs:
EmPOWER Maryland: Ratepayers located in the following service territories can access energy efficiency-related incentives through their utility.

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
Potomac Edison Company (PE): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
Delmarva Power & Light (Delmarva): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECO): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
Washington Gas Light Company (WGL): EmPOWER Maryland Incentives
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​ Best Practices & Technical Guides

Looking for technical assistance for your new construction upgrades? The Hub offers guidance and support to help Marylanders take the next step ​toward cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.​
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Maryland Energy Administration
1800 Washington Blvd.
Suite 425, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 537-4000 | 1-800-72-ENERGY