Gov. Wes Moore announced $36 million in new funding for local school districts in Maryland to expand clean energy systems and energy efficiency.
The Maryland Energy Administration’s Decarbonizing Public Schools Program will help districts turn the funding into action.
The program gives funding to districts to reduce their carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. It also helps schools manage and understand their energy use and data, expand energy efficiency in current schools, and design future schools with high-performance in mind.
“We are taking a comprehensive approach to making energy more efficient, more affordable, and more sustainable in the State of Maryland,” Moore said in a statement. “Every dollar we invest to improve energy performance in schools helps us save money and direct more resources toward our children’s education. This is what creative and responsible governing looks like.”
This is the program’s third year, and it has already funded a wide array of energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy projects throughout Maryland’s K-12 public schools. The projects have reduced emissions and created savings from the lower energy use. Energy is the second-largest expense for school districts, so money saved there can be added to educational programming.
“K–12 schools are more than classrooms—they serve as the heart of communities where people learn, play, vote, and come together in times of need,” said Paul G. Pinsky, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, in a statement. “By decarbonizing schools, Maryland is both reducing emissions and modeling sustainable values for students, families, and the wider community. Maryland’s public schools are teaching the country by example how to cut their operating costs and carbon emissions at the same time.”
The $36 million comes from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which aims to reduce Marylanders’ energy bills, minimize energy waste, create jobs, promote energy independence, and improve reliability and resilience.
Lowering energy costs has been a priority for the Moore-Miller administration, as many in the region predict an affordability crisis for residents. The administration has been looking for both long-term solutions embracing energy efficiency and affordability, and short-term relief for Marylanders with painful bills.
The short-term help is coming in the form of two direct rebates on their energy bills, ranging from $30–$67, depending on household usage and utility company. The Moore-Miller administration also launched the Customer Relief Fund, which distributed $19 million to limited and middle-income residents through trusted local nonprofit organizations.
Long-term strategies involve partnering with federal, state, and regional policymakers to lower consumer costs. In May 2025, Maryland joined the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, announcing multi-state collaboration dedicated to reducing the cost of electricity and increasing its reliability. This is a first-of-its-kind effort to fix gaps in transmission, improve the grid for the direct purpose of benefitting consumers.
The Decarbonizing Public Schools Program is another long-term strategy to achieve the administration’s energy goals. Maryland’s school systems are among the largest in the nation, so the potential impact is significant. As of May 2024, eight of the largest 200 school districts in the country were in Maryland, including Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Baltimore County Public Schools, Anne Arundel Public Schools, and Baltimore City Public School System.
The Maryland Energy Administration is accepting applications now through Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. ET. Full details on eligibility, program guidelines, and the application process are available on the Maryland Energy Administration’s website.
