Program Description: The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), in partnership with the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), is pleased to announce the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Decarbonizing Public Schools Program to help Local Education Agencies (LEAs) develop capacity and advance strategies for promoting clean and efficient energy use within their portfolio of current and future K-12 schools and support facilities. This FY23 program is an evolution of a FY22 pilot program.
Program Purpose: The overall intent of the Decarbonizing Public Schools Program is to prepare LEAs, also known as school districts, to expand their capacity to manage energy data to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while designing for future high-performance schools. The program provides $2 million in funding from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to help LEAs develop and expand their capacity to address ongoing challenges and opportunities for controlling costs through energy data management as well as adopting cost-effective net zero energy design considerations for public school portfolio planning. Grant funding is offered for two areas of interest (AOI). The first, AOI.1, will defray the costs of energy data management and use of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®(Portfolio Manager). The second, AOI.2, will help cover the cost of incorporating net zero energy (NZE) design principles into facility development portfolios and long-term capital plans.
Type of Program: Competitive, with consideration of need. Applicants may apply for funding to support one or both AOIs, for either their entire school district or for a significantly sized multi-facility subset. Grants are intended to fund scopes for portfolio-level activities. Scopes for individual school facilities will not be considered.
Program Application Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2022. At 5:00 p.m.
Funding: A total of $1 million is expected to be available for AOI.1 and $800,000 for AOI.2. THe amount may vary depending on the quantity and quality of applications received. For more information about calculation of grant amounts, please see the Funding Opportunity Announcement below.
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