ARRA Funding
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009) offers unprecedented opportunities for state and local governments to reduce energy, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and create jobs through the implementation of clean energy (energy efficiency, renewable energy, and combined heat and power) programs.
The EPA has created a Clean Energy web resource dedicated to clean energy programs and implementation ideas for state and local governments that may also be valuable for entrepreneurs working on solutions that involve partnering with government.
Maryland Clean Energy Economic Development Initiative (CEEDI)
Maryland has one of the most progressive Renewable Portfolio Standards in the nation and is working to meet the goal of having 20% of the State’s electricity from renewable sources by 2022. This demand for renewable energy affords the State an exciting opportunity to migrate its workforce into the green job sector. This can be done with existing Maryland businesses and companies seeking to become established in Maryland.
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has received approval from DOE to allocate approximately 15% of the State Energy Program for Clean Energy Economic Development. This equates to approximately $7 million in total to be encumbered (under contract) by September 30, 2010, and fully expended (work completed and invoiced) by March 30, 2012.
Applications for the second cycle of awards are due by 3 p.m., April 30, 2010. Awards are expected to be announced by June 2010.
Preference will be given to projects that meet the following overarching parameters:
- Contributes to Maryland clean energy sector.
- Immediately or rapidly generates a quantifiable number of sustainable jobs in Maryland.
- Demonstrates that funding sought through CEEDI will be leveraged by additional funding secured from other sources. Note: ARRA funds are not targeted to fund research and development, market feasibility studies, pilot projects, start-up companies, or the development of a completely new or untested technology.
- Demonstration at the time of application that the proposed project funding requested will comply with all special requirements governing the use of funds made available through ARRA. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Federal prevailing-wage rate requirements, known as Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) requirements.
- Evidence that the project is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Evidence, where appropriate, that all elements of the proposed project meet all Buy America provisions contained in ARRA.
MEA will require that recipients of loan or grant funds report certain information regarding the use and effects of ARRA funds, including but not limited to the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained through the use of the ARRA-funded loans or grants.
For more information on these requirements, please visit the following section on MEA’s website: Working with ARRA.