EmPOWER Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the State of Maryland has been allocated approximately $52 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The 10 largest Maryland counties and the 10 largest Maryland municipalities, based on population, are eligible to receive EECBG grants directly from DOE. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has approximately $9.6 million in EECBG funds for projects to be implemented in the remaining Maryland counties and municipalities not eligible to receive EECBG grants directly from DOE.

Read the list of Maryland counties and municipalities that accepted an EECBG sub-grant from MEA.

MEA will be allocating the majority of these funds in the form of sub-grants, using a population based formula.  The sub-grants will be used to enable energy projects that are eligible for EECBG funding, based on guidance issued by DOE. MEA will also be using a portion of the EECBG funds to provide assistance to help local governments identify their specific energy opportunities and to estimate project savings.

Quick Links

Approval Process for Existing Grantees

Project Approval Forms

Use the following application instructions and documents to apply for an EECBG grant.

  • MEA can approve your project once all project requirements outlined in the project approval form (Attachment E) of your EECBG grant agreement have been met.
  • To help sub-grantees be successful in getting their EECBG project(s) approved, the MEA team has created a project approval checklist.
  • A post project approval checklist has also been created to help guide sub-grantees through the EECBG procurement, implementation, and invoicing processes, once their EECBG project has been approved by MEA.

Grant Documents

This section contains documents from the original EECBG grant agreement between MEA and each sub-grantee, as well as any documents that have been revised since the original EECBG grant agreements were issued.

  • Maryland EECBG Waste Management Plan (Attachment B): UPDATED 11/15/10 Before your project can be approved by MEA, each sub-grantee must submit Attachment B-Part 1 to MEA. Attachment B-Part 1 asks grantees to identify the types of waste that will be generated, estimate the amount of waste that will be generated, and communicate how the wastes will eventually disposed (landfill, recycled, etc.). Attachment B-Part 2 is complete during the construction phase of the project and identifies the exact location where waste generated through the EECBG program has been disposed.
  • Historical Preservation Project Review Form (Attachment C): Before your project can be approved by MEA, each sub-grantee must have their project reviewed by a qualified historical professional to ensure that there will be no "adverse effects" on historic properties through the EECBG program. Completed forms should be sent to MEA or to your technical assistance account manager.
  • REVISED ARRA Addendum- Special Terms and Conditions for ARRA-Funded EECBG Grants (Attachment D): Based on additional guidance from DOE, MEA has revised Attachment D to contain the most up-to-date terms and conditions of the ARRA-funded EECBG grants. Sub-grantees were sent a revised copy of this document via e-mail in July 2010. This document must be included in all contracts funded by sub-grantees through their EECBG sub-grant.
  • REVISED EmPOWER EECBG Monthly Report (Attachment F): UPDATED 11/15/10 Once your project has been approved, each sub-grantee will need to submit a monthly report to MEA outlining the work completed and quantifying the energy savings and job creation/retention that occurred during the previous month.

Procurement

All contracts funded using ARRA-funded EECBG grants must follow a procurement process that complies with federal procurement requirements. Once your project has been formally approved by the MEA, you can use the attached checklist that outlines the EECBG procurement requirements.

Additional Requirements

Buy American Guidance and Waivers

All ARRA-funded programs, such as the EECBG program, funding projects occurring in or on public buildings and/or public works are required to comply with the provisions of the Buy American Act. The Buy American requires that all iron, steel, or manufactured goods that is permanently installed in or on public works be produced within the United States.

Buy American Certification Form: MEA asks that each EECBG sub-grantee utilize this form to document Buy American compliance. Grantees should have this form completed by vendors (contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers) that will be procuring iron, steel, or manufactured goods under their EECBG sub-grant. Completed forms should be sent back to MEA.

Buy American Equipment Waivers: A link to the most up-to-date list of Buy American equipment waivers is posted on DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

Buy American De Minimis Public Interest Waiver: This waiver exempts incidental, low costs items totaling up to a MAXIMUM of 5% of the total costs of iron, steel, and manufactured goods from the Buy American provisions.

Manufactured goods that are not "physically incorporated" into a public building or facility do not need to comply with Buy American. Examples of these types of goods include:

  • A crane used to lift items on a construction site because the crane is not incorporated into the building or public work.
  • An energy efficient desktop computer monitor because the monitor does not become a permanent fixture of the building.

Waste Management

To ensure that waste is being disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner, the grant requires the submission of a waste management plan. The plan consists of two components:

  • Component 1 is an estimation of the waste that will be generated, and a proposal of where it will be sent. This is required for project approval.
  • Component 2 documents that all waste generated through the EECBG sub-grant was disposed of in a manner consistent with the process outlined in Attachment B of the EECBG sub-grant. Component 2 of the Waste Management Plan must clearly indicate addresses of facilities where project-generated waste was ultimately disposed of and/or recycled.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) provides a list of Maryland Permitted Solid Waste Acceptance Facilities. The facilities on this list are approved by the MDE. Some of this information may have changed. Please call any facility listed to determine if it accepts the type of waste that has been generated.

Mdrecycles.org maintains a list of recyclers known to be operating in Maryland that dispose of fluorescent lamps.

Historic Preservation

Under an agreement between MEA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Maryland Historic Trust, MEA has hired a contractual historian to help review EECBG projects to ensure all projects comply with historical preservation requirements. Depending on the age, location, and historical stature of a facility receiving EECBG funds, potential EECBG projects must be screened to identify any proposed projects that may have an "adverse effect" on a historic property.

As part of this process, MEA (or MEA's technical assistance contractor) will require the following information, based upon the particular project:

        The historical preservation documentation should be submitted to MEA or to MEA's technical assistance contractor. This information will be reviewed by MEA's in-house historian and/or a representative of the Maryland Historical Trust.

        Davis-Bacon Guidance and Wage Determinations

        All ARRA-funded programs, such as the EECBG program, funding projects occurring in or on public buildings and/or public works are required to comply with the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act. The Davis-Bacon Act requires all contractors and sub-contractors to pay laborers and mechanics the prevailing wage for their labor classification, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Under this Act, laborers and mechanics must be paid weekly. Certified payrolls must be submitted to MEA on a weekly basis as well, documenting the payment of the appropriate prevailing wage to laborers and mechanics working on an EECBG funded project. Finally, the Davis-Bacon Act requires that the Davis-Bacon wage determinations and the Davis-Bacon compliance poster be prominently displayed on the job site at all times.

      • The Davis-Bacon poster (WH-1321) must be posted at all times by contractors and subcontractors working on an EECBG funded project. The poster must be displayed at the work site in a prominent and accessible place where it can be easily seen by the workers. Download the Davis-Bacon compliance poster.
      • The following form was created by the U.S. Department of Labor to certify Davis-Bacon payrolls. This link will take you to Form WH-347: Blank Department of Labor Certified Davis-Bacon Payroll Form
      • This link provides a sample completed certified Davis-Bacon payroll form: Sample Department of Labor (DOL) Certified Davis-Bacon Payroll Form
      • This document, created by the MEA, provides some sample Davis-Bacon calculations. This document is very helpful for individuals working with Davis-Bacon for the first time: Sample Wage and Fringe Benefit Calculations
      • This document, also created by the MEA, provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete the Davis-Bacon payroll forms. This document is also very helpful for individuals working with Davis-Bacon for the first time: Davis-Bacon Payroll Form Completion Instructions
      • This form should be used to complete Davis-Bacon interviews:  Revised Davis-Bacon interview form (Updated: Jan. 10, 2012)

      Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations (by County)

        Davis-Bacon wage determinations are determined on a county by county basis.  Because the Davis-Bacon wage determination can be updated by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) at any time, EECBG grantees (and their contractors) should be sure to look up the most up-to-date wage determinations for the county where work is occurring.

        To look up the current Davis-Bacon wages for a particular county:

      1. Open up the DOL website ( http://www.wdol.gov/dba.aspx#0).
      2. In the section entitled "By Selection criteria beginning with", choose "Maryland" from the drop down menu of states.
      3. Next, choose the county where the Davis-Bacon work is going to be occurring from the drop down menu entitled "County". 
      4. From the "Construction Type" drop down menu, select "Building".
      5. Click "Search".  

      To look up historical Davis-Bacon wages for a particular county:

    1. Open up the DOL website ( http://www.wdol.gov/dba.aspx#0).
    2. Click on "Archived Wage Determinations" from the gray box on the center right of the webpage. 
    3. From the drop down menu, choose "2010" for wage determinations issued in 2010 and 2011.  Choose "2008" for wage determinations issued in 2008 and 2009.
    4. Click "Search".
    5. From the list below, enter the appropriate Davis-Bacon wage determination (WD) for your county. 
    6. A list of wage determinations issued during the time period in question will appear.  From this list, select the wage determination in effect during your project.

      As of February 2012, these are the current and historical Wage Determination Numbers for building construction projects in Maryland:

      County 2012 WD 2010-2011 WD 2008-2009 WD
      Allegany MD67 MD123 MD2
      Anne Arundel MD77 MD133 MD21
      Baltimore City MD69 MD125 MD1
      Baltimore County MD68 MD124 MD37
      Calvert MD78 MD134 MD34
      Caroline MD44 MD89 MD30
      Carroll MD70 MD126 MD28
      Cecil MD71 MD127 MD6
      Charles MD79 MD135 MD46
      Dorchester MD48 MD93 MD30
      Frederick MD80 MD136 MD9
      Garrett MD45 MD90 MD43
      Harford MD72 MD128 MD42
      Howard MD73 MD129 MD29
      Kent MD48 MD93 MD30
      Montgomery MD81 MD137 MD56
      Prince George's MD82 MD138 MD57
      Queen Anne's MD48 MD93 MD14
      Somerset MD75 MD131 MD13
      St. Mary's MD46 MD91 MD36
      Talbot MD47 MD92 MD30
      Washington MD74 MD130 MD10
      Wicomico MD76 MD132 MD50
      Worcester MD48 MD93 MD53
      STATUS CURRENT ARCHIVED ARCHIVED

        Maryland Department of Transportation Directory of Certified MBE and/or DBE Firms

        The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Directory provides a reference source of firms certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) as MBE/DBEs. This website can be used to help comply with the procurement requirements of 10 CFR 600.236(e) which requires that sub-grantees take affirmative steps to ensure that minority firms, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible.

The MBE/DBE information is accessed by clicking on the box marked "MBE/DBE Directory." Directory users can search for MBE/DBE firms geographically by county and zip code, as well as by the type of service the firm provides.

If you have any questions about the MBE program, please consult the list of frequently asked questions maintained by MDOT.

Maryland Workforce Exchange

If, as a result of the EECBG funding, any new jobs are going to be created and/or any currently vacant jobs are going to be filled, all EECBG sub-grantees, contractors, and sub-contractors must post job information for these positions on the Maryland Workforce Exchange website, as required in the grant agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All contractors and sub-contractors working on federal funded projects, such as the EECBG program, are required to post the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster on the worksite.

Additional Information

MEA Technical Assistance Team Structure

MEA has procured a technical assistance team to help support the one hundred and thirty three EECBG sub-grantees.

Whistleblower Protection

All non-federal employers receiving ARRA funds, including EECBG sub-grantees as well as their contractors and sub-contractors, are required to post notice of whistleblower rights and protections. A downloadable poster entitled "Know Your Rights Under the Recovery Act" explains these rights and protections.

ARRA Calculator

A calculator provided by the U.S. Department of Energy to help estimate energy savings associated with energy projects can be downloaded here:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Logo

An optional logo that can be posted to indicate that your energy project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  MEA encourages sub-grantees to post this logo.

Questions or Comments

Please address questions or comments via e-mail to Jenn Gallicchio at jgallicchio@energy.state.md.us or to Dean Fisher at dfisher@energy.state.md.us. Calls can be directed to 1-800-72-ENERGY.