Maryland Net Zero Energy School Initiative Grant Program
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The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and the Public School Construction Program (PSCP) had partnered in a Net Zero School Initiative to construct three new net zero energy schools in Maryland.
Through the 2012 merger of Constellation Energy, the parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), and Exelon Corporation, a Customer Investment Fund (CIF) was established to provide financial resources for long term energy efficiency and conservation goals. The Maryland Public Service Commission, the State of Maryland's utility regulator, had approved the use of $9 million of CIF funding to create a program to enable the design and construction of three net zero energy public schools within the BGE service territory.
For more information about MEA’s current Net Zero Schools initiatives, please visit our Decarbonizing Public Schools Program webpage
here.
Schools were selected based on factors like the school district’s interest in the Net Zero Energy Schools Program, the proposed construction timeline, the location of the proposed school site, and the likelihood of the school achieving net zero energy status. All of the school sites had to be located within the BGE service territory.
School districts selected to participate in the program will receive the following benefits:
- Funding to help offset the incremental costs of designing and constructing a net zero energy school
- Reduced utility costs over the life of the new school
- National recognition as one of very few schools to achieve net zero energy status, and
- A “living laboratory” that can be used to educate students, educators, and community members about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Current Program Status
The program resulted in the construction of Maryland’s first cohort of Net Zero Energy Schools. This includes: Wilde Lake Middle School in Howard County, Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights Elementary/Middle School and Holabird Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City.
Additional questions about the Net Zero Energy Schools Program can be sent to schools.mea@maryland.gov.
