DEP News

Friday, August 26, 2011

Stimulus Funding Available for Energy Efficiency Initiatives in Homes

Montgomery County today launched the Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program that will provide incentives of up to $3,000 to owner occupants of single family homes and condominiums who make new energy efficiency improvements.  Eligible improvements include air sealing, insulation, heating and cooling, geothermal heat pumps, solar water heating and appliances.  The $1.1 million program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  

“The Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program will help homeowners overcome the financial barriers to making their homes more energy efficient while creating jobs in our community,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett.  “The rebates will help raise the public’s awareness of the ways in which changes in their home can have big impacts on their energy costs and our environmental quality.  Improving household energy efficiency is an important component of the County’s efforts to meet our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.”  

The rebate program has been carefully designed to work in concert with other sources of incentives available from Pepco, BG&E, Potomac Edison (Allegheny Power) and the Maryland Energy Administration Programs, as well as federal tax credits.  Participants may also be able to take advantage of financing programs offered by the Maryland Clean Energy Center’s Home Energy Loan Program.

“The Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is a key component of our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs, which are designed to make our community more efficient while stimulating valuable green jobs,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Director Bob Hoyt.  “In addition, we hope as consumers undertake comprehensive audits of their home’s energy performance, they will learn about further opportunities to make environmentally friendly choices.”

Montgomery County also offers property tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, authorized at $500,000 annually.  The number of applications for these credits continues to grow and has far exceeded the annual limit, resulting in a several year backlog for applicants.  The County is prohibited from using federal ARRA funds to supplement the County’s existing tax credit program. 

To apply for the new residential rebate, consumers must have a completed energy audit and a scope of work from a professional installer.  Residents can learn more about the program and apply online at the County’s energy funding website at www.mcenergyfunding.com.   Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.  The site also will provide information about the availability of consumer workshops as they are scheduled where consumers can learn more about the rebates and the application process.  DEP expects that 300 to 500 homes will be improved under the program.

The residential rebate is part of a package of programs developed under the County’s ARRA grant. Other efforts will retrofit commercial, multi-family and public buildings, train workers in new, green skills, and provide public education and outreach.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Solar Panels on the Roof of the Solid Waste Transfer Station

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett symbolically activated 1,248 solar panels on the roof of the County’s Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station that will generate approximately 350,000 kilowatt hours ( kWh) of electricity in the first year of operation and more than six million kWh over the 20-year life of the project.

In everyday equivalents, the six million kWh produced by the panels will produce enough energy to power 590 average U.S. homes for one year. The panels began producing power in March 2011.

The County paid no upfront capital costs for the solar energy system, thanks to $280,000 in grant funding from the Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA) Project Sunburst program and a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SunEdison of Beltsville. Through the PPA, SunEdison has financed and constructed the array and will operate and maintain the panels.

The County will pay a fixed kWh rate over the 20 years of the agreement, and the energy will be used in the operations of the Transfer Station. The Project Sunburst Grant reduced the costs of the long-term energy rates charged, while supporting the creation of “green dollar” jobs by using American-made products, like the solar modules, to complete the project.

Speaking at the “Flip the Switch” ceremony, Leggett said, “We are proud to be among the jurisdictions from around the state to have been selected for a Project Sunburst grant. Montgomery County is a nationally recognized leader in advancing clean energy and promoting sustainability, and although this may be a small project in the terms of output compared to some of the others, rest assured, it is a big deal for us to be able to do our part to produce clean, renewable energy.”

The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA), the contract manager of the Transfer Station operations for the County, will purchase and use the energy produced for 20 years. NMWDA is a Regional Government organization whose mission is to plan and develop efficient, reliable waste management systems for its member jurisdictions, including those that provide for energy generation and resource recovery.

Close up and aerial views of the solar panel array at the Transfer Station may be seen on the Division of Solid Waste Services website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/solidwaste.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Montgomery County Commercial/Multi-Family Energy-Efficiency Rebate Program

The Commercial/Multi-Family Rebate Program, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helps businesses, non-profit, faith based organizations and multi-family communities overcome financial barriers to doing improvements that can save energy and reduce operating costs. 

Organizations may apply for up to 50% of project costs or $75,000, whichever is less.  Funding can be used for a wide variety of energy-efficiency building improvements and equipment.  Funding will be awarded on the merit of the proposed project and is available in two rounds due April 15th and May 15th respectively.

Visit www.mcenergyfunding.com/ for more information.