CESA Member Maryland

“CESA is an enormous resource to Maryland and should be used by all state energy agencies. The organization follows developments in policies, finance, and technologies and provides a valuable conduit for informational exchange, fostering best practices and avoidance of potential pitfalls.” Ross Tyler, former MEA Director of Clean Energy

Visit the Maryland Energy Administration Website

Maryland Energy Administration

The Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF), created by the General Assembly in 2008, promotes affordable, reliable, and clean energy. The SEIF provides incentives to decrease energy bills, increase the supply of renewable energy, reduce Maryland's carbon footprint, and create new, green-collar jobs. The program also provides residential rate relief and assists low-income families with energy assistance funds. The SEIF is a special fund consisting of the proceeds from the auction of carbon emission allowances to power plants under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Seventy-three (73%) of the SEIF has been returned directly to Marylanders in the form of credits on household electric bills and bill payments to keep the lights on for thousands of low-income Marylanders. The remaining 27% has been invested to help homeowners, renters, and businesses to save money through energy makeovers and renewable energy systems, creating hundreds of green collar jobs and reducing greenhouse gases in the process.

As shown in the below chart, the SEIF investments during FY10 and FY11 are anticipated to achieve the following benefits for Marylanders:

 

FY 10

FY 11

SEIF funds Invested by Maryland Energy Administration into Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs

$11.8 million

$6.5 million

Energy savings over life of investments

$47 million

$31 million

New green collar jobs created

134

95

CO2 emissions reduced

14,500 tons

9,600 tons

Cars off the road (in CO2 equivalent)

2,500

1,700

# of Maryland low-to-moderate income families benefitting from energy retrofits

730

630

RE systems installed on homes

540

262

Annual MWh equivalents saved

25,000

16,800

Number of Marylanders receiving rate relief

2.1 million

2.1 million