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Resilient Maryland Program

​Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters
  Above: Microgrid installed at Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters Photo Credit: Montgomery County, MD
  

Update: Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order ​on March 12, 2020 mandating teleworking for non-essential state employees across all state agencies in response to COVID-19. With this in mind, MEA encourages that all correspondence and reporting regarding the Resilient Maryland Program be submitted via email to RMP.MEA@Maryland.gov.

During this time, MEA Resilient Maryland Program Manager Brandon Bowser can most easily be reached via email at BrandonW.Bowser@Maryland.gov or via phone at (443) 306-0304. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your understanding.

FY21 Resilient Maryland Program

Program Manager: Brandon Bowser

***PROGRAM OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS***


ALL APPLICATIONS DUE BY 11:59 P.M. EST, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021


The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is pleased to announce the FY21 Resilient Maryland program, which is aimed at driving growth in the adoption of microgrid and other distributed energy resource (“DER”) systems that provide clean, efficient, reliable energy to key entities across the State of Maryland. In FY20, the program experienced an immensely successful inaugural year in which MEA received twenty-five (25) unique project proposals from various organizations across the State and awarded fourteen (14) grants for a combined total of over $1.03 million in issued Grant funds.

Resilient Maryland provides the opportunity to identify potential ways to incorporate clean and distributed energy resources into organization energy management plans that meet energy resilience, sustainability, affordability, and efficiency goals. The program provides funds for completion of the planning and design of DER systems including community and campus microgrids, resilient facility power systems, advanced combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and community resiliency hubs.

The program is offered to all types of entities across the State of Maryland seeking clean, efficient, resilient energy solutions. Eligible entities include but are not limited to: local governments seeking to bolster essential services (e.g. fire, rescue, emergency shelters, etc.); economic development districts seeking to attract new industries, academic organizations, businesses seeking high quality energy (e.g. biotech, datacenters, etc.); multifamily housing communities (e.g. senior housing, advanced care facilities, vulnerable populations, etc.); hospitals and medical facilities where failure is not an option; electric vehicle charging sites; and others.

Full details on program terms and conditions as well as typical funding amounts are available in the sections below. MEA is also hosting five (5) informational webinar sessions on the FY21 Resilient Maryland program. Please see the "Informational Webinar Sessions" section below for more information and instructions on how to register.

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Program Overview

 

Resilient Maryland provides funds for planning and design of DER systems for projects that fall under the four (4) following Areas of Interest (AOIs):

  • AOI 1: Community/Campus Microgrid
  • AOI 2: Resilient Facility Power System (Single Facility Microgrid)
  • AOI 3: Advanced CHP (Black Start & Islanding)
  • AOI 4: Community Resiliency Hub

The desired outcomes of Resilient Maryland are to:

  • Identify prime candidate sites for microgrids, resilient facility power systems, “black start” and islanding CHP systems, and community resiliency hubs;
  • Encourage clean energy development in the built environment;
  • Identify replicable and scalable distributed energy resource system models;
  • “Prime the market” for broader clean energy system adoption;
  • Bring projects from initial concept to shovel-ready status;
  • Encourage technical and financial innovation in the energy services sector;
  • Leverage existing incentive programs to minimize out-of-pocket costs to the end user;
  • Connect participants with other MEA and utility incentive programs; and
  • Encourage constructive dialogue between communities, utilities, and other stakeholders on clean and resilient energy systems.

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Funding Information

 

Resilient Maryland provides direct funding for project planning and design and connects eligible projects with other MEA programs that provide funding for equipment or installation. MEA will provide crucial funding for planning and design costs of a planned DER system after careful consideration by the program Review Committee, subject to the following maximum award amounts for each Area of Interest (AOI).

Area of Interest Maximum Award Amount per Project*
Community/Campus Microgrid
$100,000
Resilient Facility Power System
$25,000
Advanced CHP System
$10,000
Community Resiliency Hub
$10,000
*Subject to funding availability and may be adjusted by MEA.

Entities seeking additional capital support for the equipment and installation of the planned DER system are encouraged to explore other MEA programs that provide funding for equipment and installation incentives. Information on these programs and links to their respective webpages are available in the FY21 Resilient Maryland Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in the Eligibility Requirements section below.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Award announcements for these funds are expected sometime in quarter 1 (Q1) of 2021.

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Eligibility Requirements

 

Full eligibility requirements, terms, conditions and restrictions can be found in the FY21 Resilient Maryland Funding Opportunity Announcement.pdfFY21 Resilient Maryland Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

At a minimum, eligible projects must:

  • Be located within the State of Maryland;
  • Clearly demonstrate the organizational and/or societal benefits of system implementation;
  • Include an Applicant contribution that can be at a minimum an amount of donated work hours (excluding administrative duties related to Grant reporting);
  • Demonstrate clean energy systems that achieve greenhouse gas reductions; and
  • Permit showcasing of project findings and installations by MEA to the public.

Applicants must be in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), when applicable.

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How to Apply

 

***Applications are due by 11:59 P.M. EST, Friday, January 29, 2021***


Follow the steps below to successfully submit an Application Package to MEA.

Step 1: Download and review the FY21 Resilient Maryland Funding Opportunity Announcement.pdfFY21 Resilient Maryland Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This document explains all terms, conditions, requirements, and restrictions of the Resilient Maryland program.

Step 2: Download and complete the FY21 Resilient Maryland Application Form.docxFY21 Resilient Maryland Application Form.

Step 3: Complete the Project Proposal according to the directions specified in the FOA.

Step 4: Verify that a complete copy of each required supplemental document is included in the Application Package prior to submission. The FOA specifies each document required for a complete Application Package.

Step 5: Once the Application Form, Project Proposal, and all other required documents are complete, submit all documents to MEA at the following email address:

>>> RMP.MEA@Maryland.gov <<<


MEA is encouraging the use of electronic communications, including applications to streamline processing and reduce environmental impacts. If you choose to “opt out” of electronic communications for this program, please contact MEA no later than five (5) days prior to the application deadline to determine an alternative method to submit an application. Applications must be submitted no later than January 29, 2021, 11:59 P.M. EST, unless the Applicant has contacted MEA regarding an alternative application method and that method has been authorized in writing by MEA.

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Informational Webinar Sessions

 

MEA will host five (5) informational webinar sessions for Resilient Maryland that will provide Applicants and interested parties an overview of the Program, its eligibility requirements, and guidance on how to submit a successful Application Package. All sessions will be the same, so only attending one is necessary. However, attendance at more than one session is certainly permitted if desired.

  • Session 1: Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. EDT
  • Session 2: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. EDT
  • Session 3: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. EST
  • Session 4: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. EST
  • Session 5: Thursday, January 7, 2020 at 4:00 P.M. EST

Click the following link to register: FY21 Resilient Maryland Informational Webinar Registration

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Program Timeline

 

The anticipated Resilient Maryland timeline is detailed in the table below. Dates are subject to change at the discretion of MEA.

Date Program Milestone
August 27, 2020 Program Opens for Applications
September 17, 2020 Informational Webinar Session 1
October 13, 2020 Informational Webinar Session 2
November 10, 2020 Informational Webinar Session 3
December 16, 2020 Informational Webinar Session 4
January 5, 2021 Informational Webinar Session 5
January 29, 2021 All Application Packages Due to MEA
March 2020 Anticipated Award Announcements
April 30, 2020 Grant Agreement Execution Deadline

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Reporting Resources for Existing Grantees

 

Monthly Reporting: Each Resilient Maryland grantee is required to submit monthly progress reports throughout the grant timeframe. Reports are due on the 10th day of the month following the reporting month (e.g. a July progress report is due by August 10). Each grantee must use the “Monthly Project Progress Report” form found in Attachment B to the Grant Agreement. A fillable copy of this report is provided below:

Reimbursement Requests: Grant funds are paid in arrears only after they have been incurred by Grantee. A Grantee should use the “Reimbursement Request for Costs Incurred” form found in Attachment C to the Grant Agreement when preparing requests for reimbursement. A fillable copy of this report is provided below:

Final Deliverables Submission: A Grantee must submit a final packet of all completed deliverables as defined by Attachment A to the Grant Agreement at the conclusion of the grant project. Each FY20 Grantee must submit all final deliverables by no later than Wednesday, July 21, 2021. A completed copy of the “Final Deliverables Submission” form, (also included as Attachment D to the Grant Agreement) is required as part of a complete submission of the Final Deliverables. A fillable copy of this form is provided below:

Questions about reporting requirements can be directed to Ms. Meg Cefail, Energy Specialist, at Margaret.Cefail@Maryland.gov or via phone at (410) 371-0976.

 

Related Programs

 

The following FY21 MEA programs provide funds for energy system equipment and installation costs. Applicants to Resilient Maryland are encouraged to consider these programs for additional funding for their projects:

Combined Heat and Power Grant Program

Commercial Clean Energy Rebate Program

Parking Lot Solar PV Canopy with EV Charger Grant Program

Public Facility Solar Grant Program

Resiliency Hub Grant Program

Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural Grant Program​

Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program

Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit Program


Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program (1% and under financing for energy efficiency projects)

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Prior Fiscal Years

 

The following links provide information on past cycles of the Resilient Maryland Program. These pages are provided for historical purposes only and do not affect the terms, conditions, rules, restrictions, and requirements of the FY21 Resilient Maryland Program.

FY20 Resilient Maryland Program (Archived)​

 

Contact

 

Questions and feedback regarding the Resilient Maryland program should be directed to Brandon Bowser, CHP & Energy Resilience Program Manager, at BrandonW.Bowser@Maryland.gov or via phone at (443) 306-0304.

Grants issued by the State of Maryland may be taxable. As the Maryland Energy Administration is unable to give tax advice, any tax-related questions should be directed to a qualified tax professional.