Maryland Launches Funding Programs to Support Microgrids, Resiliency Hubs

The Maryland Energy Administration on Feb. 1 announced new funding for microgrids, robust power systems, resilient hubs, and other distributed energy resource networks to provide reasonable, consistent, and feasible energy to domestic and commercial consumers that are vulnerable to power outages.

In 2021, the agency funded the Resilient Maryland and Resiliency Hub programs to create prospects for better-distributed energy resource distribution to reduce the impact of power disruption due to bad weather and cyber-attacks on power grid infrastructure.

The Resilient Maryland Capital Development Pilot Program provides a grant to utilities, communities, cooperatives, businesses, and organizations to interconnect microgrid systems. The initiative advances resilience of essential facilities and infrastructure to ensure community safety, continuity, and equity, while contributing to clean energy.

The agency will restart the 2022 Resilient Maryland planning and design program to provide funds to balance the expenses for conducting a viability study and pre-construction planning for resiliency hubs, power systems, and microgrids. The reopening marks the second round of funding in response to high demand. The pilot was initially launched in fiscal year 2020.

The agency’s Resiliency Hub Grant Program will also fund the establishment to set up resiliency hubs in their communities in 2022. During a power outage, a community resiliency hub, like a school, village hall, or library, can provide power to charge electronic devices, refrigerate temperature-sensitive products, ensuring a space that is conditioned to maintain safe temperatures. The program will support solar and battery systems and the associated mounting and accessories.

Applications for the Resilient Maryland Capital Development Pilot Program and Resilient Maryland Planning Program are due by Mar. 31 and for the Resiliency Hub Grant Program by Mar. 1.