Gov. Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is launching “Megawatts for Maryland,” a $200 million auction program to build new clean energy generation over the next two years and help lower power costs for ratepayers. MEA will administer the program, which was established through the Utility RELIEF Act, Moore signed into law earlier this year.
A Madison Energy project in Maryland.
“We’re using every tool at our disposal to bring Marylanders relief as energy costs skyrocket in our region and across the country,” Moore said. “This program will tackle rising electricity demand with cleaner, cheaper, in-state energy generation that will drive down costs for the long-term.”
The program reportedly plans to bring “hundreds of megawatts” of clean energy to the Maryland grid, with the goal of powering more than 150,000 homes in the state. The program can draw up to $100 million from the state’s Strategic Energy Investment Fund annually, and will reportedly award grants to renewable energy generation and storage developers. The funding is for curbing development and construction costs of renewable energy generation and energy storage projects. The press release states that it was developed to fill in for the investment tax credits the Trump administration through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“Maryland families and businesses need reliable electricity at prices they can afford. That’s why we made increasing our state’s energy supply a central part of the Utility RELIEF Act,” said Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk Maryland House of Delegates speaker. “This $100 million investment puts that commitment into action, using a competitive process to bring new solar generation online while making responsible use of public dollars. Building more energy capacity here at home is an important part of our long-term strategy to ease pressure on utility bills and create a more affordable energy future for Marylanders.”
Megawatts for Maryland is the latest step in the state’s goal to lower energy costs. Moore issued an executive order that would manage energy costs affected by data center development in the state in September, and the state issued $300 million in utility cost relief through its Utility RELIEF Act.
News item from the Maryland Energy Administration
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