FY18 Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program
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The Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA) Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) Grant Program has been providing thousands of LMI Marylanders each year with lower utility bills and more comfortable and healthy housing through energy efficiency upgrades. The LMI program awards grants to support cost-effective energy-efficiency measures that show significant energy savings and pass those savings along to Maryland’s LMI residents through lower utility bills or other benefits. The LMI program allows for a wide array of measures, from air sealing to HVAC, upgrades to ENERGY STAR appliances, and upgrades to both residential and commercial buildings that serve LMI Marylanders.
| # of Grants to nonprofits and local government organizations in fiscal year 2018 (FY18) | Range of Grant Amounts | Annual Cost Savings from All Awards |
|---|
| 43 | $13,000 - $350,000 | $387,903 |
The approximately $4.5 million dispersed through the FY18 program realized significant savings in 1,291 buildings while enabling 70,000 job hours for those involved with installing the energy efficiency measures.
Unity Properties
Unity Properties, a subsidiary to Bon Secours, is dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing to the residents of West Baltimore. Having received three consecutive funding awards from the LMI Program, Unity Properties has renovated 90 apartments in 45 row houses serving low-to-moderate income seniors, families, and people with disabilities. MEA funds enhanced other leveraged funds by providing energy audits, weatherization and air sealing, and upgrades to HVAC, appliances, and lighting, creating a safer, more comfortable, and more affordable housing for its residents.
Wicomico County Housing Authority
With funding from the LMI Grant Program, the Wicomico County Housing Authority restored 15 single family homes from the brink of condemnation and turn them into comfortable, safe, and energy efficient homes. MEA funding was used for weatherization and air sealing, insulation, energy efficient upgrades, and various health and safety measures to create a healthier, safer living environment with lower monthly utility bills for 15 low income families.
SAFE Housing
Many low and moderate-income homes do not qualify for energy efficiency programs due to Health and Safety or structure issues. One of the strengths of the MEA LMI program is that it allows and encourages projects that fall out of the scope for these programs. Using LMI Program funding, SAFE Housing, Inc. worked with contractors and MEA to correct issues in several Western Maryland communities that created an environment that disqualified home from energy efficiency upgrades. Funds were used for the completion of energy audits, followed by weatherizing measures and upgrades to HVAC, appliances and lighting among other eligible measures.
***The information provided below is for historical purposes only. The program platform, funding allocation, eligible projects, application processes, and monthly reporting requirements have changed since the 2018 program cycle. To learn more about the current state of the program, including the current application process, regional funding, eligible project types, and how to apply, please visit the FY20 Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program home page.***
County-allocated
This grant platform is the same as the original Clean Energy Communities grant program established in 2010. It finances energy efficiency and weatherization projects that benefit LMI Marylanders, with a county-by-county funding allocation established for each county based on population data. Grant funds will be awarded competitively within the applicant pool for each respective county, in order to encourage representation in the Program in all areas of the State. While applicants are not prohibited from submitting an application for multiple counties, please note that a
separate application must be submitted for each county to which an organization wishes to apply.
Statewide
This grant platform began in 2014 and also finances energy efficiency projects that benefit LMI Marylanders. However, this platform seeks innovative ideas directed at improving buildings, neighborhoods, or entire communities while achieving economies of scale through larger projects to serve more LMI Maryland households. Grant funds will be awarded competitively across the entire state, and are not limited to work occurring in one county.
Projects implemented by nonprofit organizations and local governments that provide energy efficiency and weatherization measures to LMI Maryland homes, as well as commercial buildings that primarily serve LMI Marylanders (e.g., homeless shelter), are eligible for grant consideration.
For a more detailed description of eligible projects, please consult the Application Instructions in the section below titled “How to Apply.”
All construction activities on projects selected for LMI Program grant funding must be completed by April 1, 2019 with all invoices and project reports submitted to MEA no later than May 1, 2019.
Up to $5 million is available under the FY18 LMI Program, split between the two Program platforms.
County-allocated Approximately $2.5 million is available in this platform, which has been allocated to each Maryland county (or county equivalent) based upon census data identifying LMI resident concentration. At a minimum, each county has been allocated $25,000. Grants will be awarded competitively within the applicant pool for each county.
The chart below shows each county’s (or county equivalent’s) allocation of funds.
County |
Allocation |
County |
Allocation |
Allegany |
$50,000 |
Harford |
$80,000 |
Anne Arundel |
$150,000 |
Howard |
$65,000 |
Baltimore City |
$470,000 |
Kent |
$25,000 |
Baltimore County |
$320,000 |
Montgomery |
$320,000 |
Calvert |
$25,000 |
Prince George’s |
$380,000 |
Caroline |
$25,000 |
Queen Anne’s |
$25,000 |
Carroll |
$45,000 |
St. Mary’s |
$45,000 |
Cecil |
$55,000 |
Somerset |
$25,000 |
Charles |
$50,000 |
Talbot |
$25,000 |
Dorchester |
$25,000 |
Washington |
$85,000 |
Frederick |
$85,000 |
Wicomico |
$65,000 |
Garrett |
$25,000 |
Worcester |
$25,000 |
All listed allocations are subject to funding availability. |
See the FY18 County-allocated LMI Program Application Instructions under the section below titled “How to Apply” for more information.
Statewide
Up to $2.5 million is available under this platform. Under the statewide platform, MEA anticipates awarding grants that range from $25,000 to $400,000, depending on the merits of the specific proposed project. See the FY18 Statewide LMI Program Application Instructions under the section below titled “How to Apply” for more information.
MEA recommends that all potential applicants participate in one of the following conference calls for details on the FY18 Clean Energy Communities LMI Program. MEA will cover what makes a strong application, what makes a good project, how to apply to the Program, and the anticipated timeline for Grantee selection. The dates and times are as follows:
- Thursday, September 7, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 13, 2017 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
To reserve a place, please RSVP to either David Giusti or Garry Aime. Conference call dial-in information will then be emailed to you.
** APPLICATIONS DUE BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 **
** PROGRAM OVERVIEW CONFERENCE CALLS SCHEDULED FOR 9/7/17 at 10:30 AM and 9/13/17 at 1:30 PM. INFORMATION BELOW ON HOW TO REGISTER. **
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is offering two platforms under the Clean Energy Communities Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program in fiscal year 2018. With a total budget of up to $5 million, the platforms are designed to support energy efficiency and conservation projects and activities for low-to-moderate income (LMI) Marylanders. See below for details regarding the available platforms, eligibility requirements, application documents, and the dates of informational conference calls for potential applicants in September 2017.
Monthly Energy Savings Data Worksheet
Selected Grantees will be required to complete a Monthly Energy Savings Data Worksheet as part of their monthly grant reporting requirements. The information submitted on this worksheet will enable MEA to estimate the energy savings associated with each project and count these energy savings toward the State’s energy goals. Prior to applying for a grant, MEA recommends that each applicant review the 
Monthly Energy Savings Data Worksheet to fully understand the energy reporting requirements of this grant program.
Income Limits
Grantee projects must serve LMI Marylanders. For the purposes of the LMI Program, LMI households are defined as those with total household gross incomes that are less than 60% (low income) and 85% (moderate income) of the median income for each Maryland county. The FY18 LMI Program will use the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) 2017 Income Limits. 60% income limits can be found on pages 10 and 11, and 85% income limits can be found on pages 18 and 19.
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Additional Questions
Please direct any questions about the LMI
Dean Fisher (Phone: 410-537-4068).
