The FY26 Program is accepting applications
now through 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 30, 2026
Program Description: The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) announces the launch of its Fiscal Year 2026 Commercial & Industrial Grant Program ("C&I FY26 Program” or “Program”). Eligible grant recipients include owners of Maryland-based commercial, industrial, data centers, and non-profits. Both new construction and existing facilities may be considered for grants to
defray the cost of improvements resulting in energy performance that exceeds current codes or standards.
**NEW FOR FY26** MEA is offering grants covering 100% of total project costs for qualified energy improvements made to
non-governmental facilities with over 50% of their clientele defined as coming from Low Income Populations. In all other cases, FY26 C&I grants provide less than 100% coverage of proposal costs. See below for details.
Type of Grant Program: The FY26 C&I Program offers grants on a competitive basis. Each proposal received prior to the application deadline will be scored by MEA for its quality of documentation and for the magnitude of environmental benefits conveyed by its proposed scope of work. Awards will be issued in rank order as determined by scoring results until the program budget is deleted.
When winning a grant award covering less than 100% of project costs net of any utility rebates, a grantee may finance the balance of costs for a proposed scope of work either with (1) funds out-of-pocket, or (2) by applying to MEA separately for a
Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan. MEA requires a separate application specific to the Lawton loan. If a loan is desired, applicants are encouraged to submit a Lawton application at the same time that the C&I grant application is submitted. NOTE that the FY26 program offers 100% project cost reimbursement to qualified applicants demonstrating that their facilities are utilized predominantly by low income populations.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until
Friday, January 30, 2026 at 3 P.M. Applicants are encouraged to compile their best possible application.
Anticipated Program Budget: Subject to funding availability, the FY26 program has a total budget of up to $8,400,000, which will be divided into three separate areas of interest (AOI):
- AOI.1: EXISTING FACILITIES, GENERAL POPULATIONS
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Commercial, office, retail, hospitality, institutional, multifamily residential properties with five or more units, research, laboratory, data centers, private elementary school and college facilities, factories, material processing facilities, warehouses, or distribution centers. These are facilities already in use and will use the proposed energy improvements to continue the enterprise’s same activities. Stationary facilities only.
- AOI.2: EXISTING FACILITIES, LOW INCOME POPULATIONS
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Eligible facilities are those that are already in use and will use the proposed energy improvements to continue the enterprise’s same activities. “Low income populations” describes the individuals that comprise the majority, i.e., 50% or more, of people served by the subject facility. See Appendices A and D of the program’s Funding Opportunity Announcement for facility parameters that meet this criterion.
- AOI.3: NEW CONSTRUCTION
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“New construction” includes facilities being fabricated for the first time, facilities subject to substantial rehab that includes replacement of major mechanical systems, or existing structures repurposed after one year or more of vacancy.
Eligible Applicants: Entities eligible to apply for grants are business (registered corporations, LLPs, LLCs, GPs, etc.) or non-profit entities that operate facilities that perform any of the following activities:
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Manufacturing or industrial production/distribution/warehousing
- Data center operations
- Office, commercial, service, or retail operations
- Private school (Pre-K, K-12) education and administration
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Privately-owned college and university education and administration
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Multifamily residential buildings containing five or more units
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Institutional human or community services
Please watch the three brief informational videos below:
For more information, please see the Funding Opportunity Announcement linked below.
Program Documents (Updated: 11/06/2025):
Additional Resources:
For more information on the CI&A Grant Program, contact MEA by email at [email protected] or by phone:
- Christopher Russell, Program Manager: (443) 908-1767
- Gus Norrbom, Energy Specialist: (410) 536-3093
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