Maryland Energy Administration Unveils $24M Program to Decarbonize K-12 Public Schools

Jan. 3, 2024
The program also provides incentives for a comprehensive suite of grants focused on capacity building, infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy adoption, and the use of sustainable construction methods

The Maryland Energy Administration has unveiled its new Decarbonizing Public Schools Program – a program designed to help K-12 public schools throughout the state fully incorporate a range of clean energy and energy efficiency measures to reduce and eliminate carbon emissions.

Developed in partnership with the Interagency Commission on School Construction, the program has allotted $24 million in funding for the 2024 fiscal year.

This funding will allow selected public schools to engage in a variety of energy efficiency improvements, such as boiler and HVAC system replacements and advanced metering and controls. Targeted facility improvements are expected to yield substantial financing cost savings over time.

The program also provides incentives for a comprehensive suite of grants focused on capacity building, infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy adoption, and the use of sustainable construction methods.

Resilence Maryland is Big on Microgrids

And Home to the Microgrid 2024 Conference in Baltimore

Join us to Experience the Revolution in Energy

“The Decarbonizing Public Schools Program is a cornerstone in Maryland’s commitment to sustainable energy,” said Paul Pinsky, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “It helps create learning environments that are more energy efficient, while they serve as living laboratories for renewable energy technologies. This holistic approach will advance our environmental and educational goals alike.”

As a precursor to the program, Maryland built and opened the state’s first three net zero energy schools – Wilde Lake Middle School in Howard County, Holabird Academy, and the Graceland Park/ O’Donnell Heights Elementary/ Middle School, both in Baltimore City.

In total, this new initiative will help education agencies retrofit, design, and construct advanced net zero energy campuses that help public schools begin their energy transition and eventually produce enough on-location renewable energy to meet their total annual electricity demands.

About the Author

Breanna Sandridge, Senior Editor

Breanna Sandridge is senior editor for EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge, both part of the energy group at Endeavor Business Media.

Prior to that, Breanna was managing editor for Machinery Lubrication and Reliable Plant magazines, both part of Noria Corp. She has two years experience covering the industrial sector.

She also is a 2021 graduate of Northeastern State University (Oklahoma) with a Bachelor's in English. 

Image credit ID 174242889 © Polly In | Dreamstime.com
dreamstime_plastic
Image credit ID 319002872 | Energy © Svetlana Diacenco | Dreamstime.com
carbon_capture_dreamstime
Image credit By Thank You (21 Millions+) views - https://www.flickr.com/photos/prayitnophotography/51150535590/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
sofi_stadium