Maryland Energy Administration awards $200,000 grant for microgrid project

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has awarded a $200,000 grant for the construction of a residential microgrid to power net zero single-family homes in Fairmount Heights.

The grant was awarded to Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP), a green nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Prince George’s County, along with Pepco and Emera Technologies.

The grant will support a community solar and battery energy storage system for six low-to-moderate income households. In short, this innovative pilot project will enable the new homeowners to generate their own energy independent of the public electrical grid.

“Supporting the development of new and affordable, clean energy homes for first-time, low-to-moderate-income home buyers is a sustainable model Maryland can build upon,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.

Phase I of the development in the fall of 2021. The six single-family homes will be built on vacant lots on 60th Place in Fairmount Heights using modular construction, designed to meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Ready Energy standards and the Passive House Institute’s PHIUS+ 2018 standard. HIP will market the homes to first-time homebuyers earning 80 percent or less of the area’s median income. Fairmount Heights is the second oldest African American majority municipality in Prince George’s County.

Pepco and Emera Technologies will install the microgrid elements and the distribution infrastructure. For the first three years after residents move into the new homes, Pepco will lead an effort with the other partners to collect data for specific metrics related to the system and potential benefits to the distribution system. Further, Pepco will share additional details regarding the initiative with the Maryland Public Service Commission, community members, and the public later this year.

“This generous grant from the Maryland Energy Administration allows Pepco and our community partners a unique opportunity to provide affordable and equitable access to sustainable energy, while at the same time helping Fairmount Heights achieve its revitalization and climate change goals,” Dave Velazquez, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, said. “By working collaboratively with the MEA, Housing Initiative Partnership, Emera Technologies and other key stakeholders on this project, we are executing our vision and commitment to supporting a low-carbon future in the communities where we live, and for the customers we serve.”

Pepco, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp., provides energy to customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Emera Technologies, based in Tampa, develops new ways to deliver renewable energy to customers.