Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Maryland Energy Administration announced today, August 14, the State's most recent plans to leverage federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for new and expanded energy programs to serve Marylanders, advance clean energy in the State, and help lower the utility bills of Maryland consumers.

Under the ARRA, Maryland will receive over $51 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to invest in State Energy Programs that will directly help residents and create green collar jobs. 

The Maryland Energy Administration will use the funds to help retrofit low and moderate income family homes, provide energy grants for homes, and provide low interest loans for energy improvements in residential and commercial facilities.

Recovery Act funding will also support educational and workforce training efforts that will help familiarize the state's workforce with important sustainable energy approaches.  Specifically, Maryland will help fund training programs focused on the construction and building industries, including planning and building code officials, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders.

"Through the State Energy Program funding available today, we are creating over 560 new green collar jobs for our workers and are able to expand energy programs to continue our commitment of putting Maryland families first," said O'Malley.

Last week, the State announced plans to include Government House in a larger energy efficiency effort to install upgrades at 37 buildings over the next year. The State will begin installing solar panels on Government House this week. Other upgrades include more efficient lighting and temperature controls, and are part of a broader project to save energy at state-operated buildings.

"This announcement is exactly what the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act is all about - creating and sustaining jobs today and preparing for the jobs of tomorrow," U.S. Senator Barbara A . Mikulski said. "Replacing imported oil with alternative energy sources that we produce here at home is critical to America's national security and to America's economy.”

By leveraging federal, state, and private investments, this funding will save Maryland families and businesses over $370 million on energy costs over the life of the investments and reduce CO2 emissions by over 2,000,000 tons, which is equivalent to taking nearly 360,000 cars off the road.

"The State Energy Program funding will help Maryland reduce its dependence on foreign energy while also reducing carbon emissions," said Senator Benjamin Cardin, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "It also will help create new jobs and enable Maryland families and businesses to achieve real energy savings."

For this fiscal year, largely funded by the State Energy Program announced today, the Maryland Energy Administration will provide energy retrofits for more than 2,750 low and moderate income families, issue renewable energy grants to an estimated 1,700 Marylanders for solar, wind and geothermal systems at their homes, and jumpstart a new low interest loan energy makeover program for all residential and commercial customers.

For more information on the Clean Energy Programs in Maryland, visit www.Energy.Maryland.Gov <https://emailwebaccess.gov.state.md.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.Energy.Maryland.Gov> .