Archive for December 2021
Abacus Property Solutions Selected as New MD-PACE Program Administrator
Abacus Property Solutions, LLC (Abacus) was recently selected by the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) as the new administrator for the Maryland Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (MD-PACE) Program. The selection was made following a competitive procurement process, including a Request for Qualifications issued by MCEC over the summer. As an instrumentality of state, MCEC…
Read More2021 Maryland General Assembly Special Session Summary Update
Maryland legislators took their seats in chambers on Monday, December 6, for the 2021 Special Legislative Session. Their mission included the debate of Redistricting Maps and the selection of a State Treasurer to replace retiring Nancy Kopp, who has served in the position since February 2002. With the return to chambers, the Maryland Constitution requires…
Read MoreNew Smart Energy Investments with Bottom-Line Benefits Program for Rural Maryland Businesses and Farms
A new initiative is aiming to provide farms, forestry operations, manufacturers, Main Street businesses and other rural companies with greater access to energy-saving expertise and related funding in order to improve their bottom lines. The Rural Maryland Council (RMC-MAERDAF) has awarded grant funds for a Capacity Building Project developed by three collaborators: FEWSS Project (Forest…
Read MoreUncommon Partnership and Advocacy Delivers Breakthrough in Pollution Reduction
Production and use of a ‘super pollutant’ commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is about to experience dramatic reductions thanks to a years-long advocacy effort and an uncommon partnership between environmentalists and industrialists. This fall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that will phase down U.S. production and use of…
Read MoreImpact of COVID-19 On the Popularity of Sustainable Goods
Consumers are now realizing the importance of buying sustainable products, and have started shifting decisions about purchases to place an importance on buying environmentally friendly products. Despite supply shortages and overall panic-induced buying during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers seem to be more concerned about the environment, based on trends from purchase decisions. The pandemic encouraged…
Read MoreMEIA Receives $10,000 Grant from The Butz Foundation
The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) has been awarded a grant of $10,000 from the Butz Foundation to support the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA) program. MEIA welcomed its inaugural cohort in January of 2020 and has received funding from a variety of sources for its work to assist with the commercialization of advanced energy…
Read MoreWhy am I hearing so much about nuclear energy?
Guest Editorial by John Kotek – Senior Vice President, Policy and Public Affairs for the Nuclear Energy Institute I get the same question with increasing regularity. “Why am I hearing so much about nuclear energy?” The answer boils down to two key considerations for a decarbonizing grid – reliability and cost. As Maryland and a…
Read More