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The MCEC Currents Newsletter is published every other month and Policy Watch updates are issued weekly during the Maryland Legislative Session.

News Archive

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Share your thoughts on MD’s Advanced Energy Market

Take the 2022 Advanced Energy Market Assessment Survey to share your thoughts how the Maryland Clean Energy Center can best support Maryland’s advanced energy industry in the coming years. Your input will help to identify priorities for the development and implementation of resources, investments, policies, and partnerships as the Center continues work towards its mission…
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Open Communications Intern Position – Apply Now!

MCEC is seeking an intern to support communications efforts and activities that support our mission to advance clean energy and energy efficiency products, services, and technologies as part of a specific economic development strategy for Maryland. This is a paid internship and may meet course credit requirements. Interns should be able to commit to a…
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Advance Registration Ending for 2022 Legislative Reception

Join MCEC, special guests, and legislators for the 2022 Legislative Reception on Thurs, Feb 17 – hybrid event, with luncheon in Annapolis Register now, before ticket sales to attend on-site close on Thursday, February 10. A limited number of virtual tickets will remain available through next week, but advance registration is required. This hybrid format…
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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…

2021 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…
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New 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…
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Uncommon 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…
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Impact 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…
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MEIA 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…

Why 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…