Maryland Energy Administration

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Nonprofit Buildings

MD Clean Buildings Hub (1).png The nonprofit sector consists of a diverse group of organizations that carry out a wide range of services that we all depend on. Energy costs are the second-highest operational expense for many nonprofits, behind only salaries. Lowering energy use can help nonprofits shift funds towards advancing their core mission and increasing activities geared to the communities they serve.

The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub) is committed to help building owners and operators understand the range of incentives for which they may qualify. Sign-up for the Hub's monthly newsletter here.​ Have questions? Contact us at [email protected]​.

​ Incentives​

Maryland’s nonprofits or community-based organizations 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 to existing or new buildings. The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub is committed to help building owners and operators understand the range of incentives for which they may qualify. 

State Programs:
Review State programs, such as from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and Maryland Clean Energy Center​ (MCEC) that help Maryland commercial buildings decarbonize.

African American Heritage Preservation Program: This program provides capital grants to nonprofits, local governments, businesses and individuals to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.
Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program: This program provides funding for solar PV systems that will be owned by or directly benefit (1) low-to-moderate income communities located in a census tract with an average median income at or below 80% of the average median income for the State, or (2) overburdened or underserved communities.
Historic Preservation Capital Loan Program: The Maryland Historical Trust's Historic Preservation Capital Loan Program provides loan assistance to nonprofits, local governments, businesses, and individuals for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or predevelopment costs of historic properties that cannot access traditional financing. Energy projects as part of an acquisition or rehabilitation/restoration are eligible expenditures.
Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund Grant: This program run by the Rural Maryland Council provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education. Combined heat & power is an eligible expense.
MEA’s Commercial & Industrial Grant Program: Cost-effective energy efficiency investments in buildings with commercial, industrial, data centers, or non-profit uses to reduce operating costs and achieve energy performance that exceeds minimum codes and standards.
MEA’s Commercial & Canopy Solar Grant Program: This program provides incentives for solar PV systems that will be owned by or directly benefit (1) low-to-moderate income communities located in a census tract with an average median income at or below 80% of the average median income for the State, or (2) overburdened or underserved communities.
MEA’s Energy Efficiency Equity Grant Program: Offered to non profit organizations and local government entities and is designed to support energy efficiency projects and related activities that benefit Maryland residents experiencing low and moderate income.
MEA’s Solar Energy Equity Grant Program: This program offers funding for the design and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy-generating systems on the homes of Marylanders that experience low-to-moderate income, or are in overburdened or underserved communities
MCEC’s Maryland Clean Energy Capital (MCAP): Offers clean energy and efficiency financing to government, institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Provides access to lower-cost capital and cost-friendly finance structures for large building projects.
Preservation Maryland Heritage Fund: In cooperation with the Maryland Historical Trust, this program provides grants to projects that protect historical and cultural resources and that promote innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs. Energy efficiency upgrades, as part of a greater project that meets the program’s criteria, may be eligible.

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

179D Energy Efficient 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.
Sec. 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit: The credit is available to taxpayers with a qualified facility and energy storage technology placed in service after Dec. 31, 2024. The Clean Electricity Investment Credit phase-out starts for the later of 2032 or when U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from electricity are 25% of 2022 emissions or lower.
Sec. 45Y Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit: A newly established, tech-neutral production tax credit that replaces the Energy Production Tax Credit once it phases out at the end of 2024. This is an emissions-based incentive that is neutral and flexible between clean electricity technologies.

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

Montgomery County Green Bank Structured Financing: Offers financing for commercial building energy performance improvements resulting in significant energy savings and GHG reduction. Only applies to buildings in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): Authorizes private capital providers to provide commercial property owners with financing for qualifying projects and to collect the repayment through annual or semi-annual surcharges on the property’s tax bill.
Prince George’s County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): Assists commercial property owners in accessing financing up to 20% of the appraised value to make qualifying energy efficiency and clean energy improvements to commercial properties with loans that are repaid through an annual surcharge on the owner’s property tax bill.
Prince George's County Green Energy Loan Program: Prince George's County will provide loans up to $250,000 for building energy efficiency improvements, energy conservation and renewable energy measures in commercial and industrial buildings.

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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​ Technical Assistance

Looking for technical assistance for your nonprofit building upgrades? The Hub​ offers guidance and support to help Marylanders take the next step toward cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.

Department of General Services Decarbonization Task Order: DGS has selected three engineering firms to assist State agencies, local governments, and nonprofits with decarbonization planning and Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) compliance planning. Eligible entities benefit from an expedited procurement process by pursuing a work order for the firms’ services via DGS.
Department of General Services Third-Party Verification Contract: State agencies, local governments, and nonprofits may use DGS's contracted vendor for third-party verification, which is a requirement of the State Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) policy.
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) Technical Assistance: GHHI provides a variety of technical assistance services to clients, such as community-based organizations; state, county, and city governments; and healthcare providers and payers. Offerings include programmatic capacity building; innovative financing; coordinated delivery of housing, health, and energy services; and healthy housing policy.
Interfaith Power & Light Clean Energy Office Hours: Interfaith Power & Light’s Maryland chapter offers office hours for houses of worship to discuss building decarbonization goals. IPL can assist with benchmarking, energy efficiency, solar, and applying for incentives.
Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) Procurement & Technical Assistance: MCEC provides procurement and technical assistance services for clean energy and decarbonization projects.
Montgomery County Green Bank Technical Assistance Program: The Montgomery County Green Bank supports studies for commercial sector owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including ASHRAE Level I, Level II, Level III/ Investment Grade audits and/or targeted analyses into benchmarking, energy efficiency, renewable energy (e.g., solar PV), electrification, EV charging infrastructure, and resiliency measures. Eligible property types include and nonprofit-owned properties such as faith-based and educational institutions.
Montgomery County Benchmarking Ambassadors: Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection curates this list of stakeholders, volunteers, and energy service companies who have received an orientation to the County’s Benchmarking Law on how to properly benchmark in Portfolio Manager. Please note that inclusion in this list does not confer certification, an official endorsement, or approval from the Montgomery County Government or any of its agencies.
Nonprofit Navigator​: The Department of Commerce's Nonprofit Navigator helps connect nonprofits with grants.

Resources​

The Hub​ invites you to explore the materials below to help guide your next steps. Use these resources to help move your building decarbonization project forward with greater confidence.​

Benchmarking: Energy benchmarking is the process of tracking a building's annual energy use and using a standard metric to compare the building's performance against past performance and to similar building types. Benchmarking improves understanding of energy consumption patterns; helps identify energy saving opportunities within a portfolio of buildings; and manages business bottom line through consistent data collection and tracking.
Better Buildings Initiative: The Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative helps buildings identify energy efficiency and clean energy solutions by barrier, building type, technology, and more.
Energy Audits: Conducting an energy audit is a recommended first step in a building’s electrification and decarbonization journey.
ENERGY STAR Tax Credit and Rebate Finder Tool: This tool helps building owners find incentives for efficient appliances, such as heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation, windows, and electric upgrades.

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Maryland Energy Administration
1800 Washington Blvd.
Suite 425, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 537-4000 | 1-800-72-ENERGY