Maryland’s new grant program for solar, wind and battery storage projects—dubbed Megawatts for Maryland—is accepting initial applications through Nov. 30, according to an October press release from the office of Gov. Wes Moore. It is the latest legislation attempting to lower rising energy prices for customers by increasing supply. 

The program aims to add hundreds of megawatts of clean, affordable power to the grid—enough to provide electricity to about 150,000 Maryland homes per year, according to the release. Projects are required to start generating electricity within seven years of receiving grant money.

The Maryland General Assembly passed the program last session through the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act. The two-year program will be funded with $200 million from the state’s Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF), which is managed by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA).

“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 in the release. “This program will tackle rising electricity demand with cleaner, cheaper, in-state energy generation that will drive down costs for the long-term.”

“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,” said Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk in the release.

Megawatts for Maryland is designed to support renewable energy projects that have moved past initial development stages, such as acquiring property and applying to Maryland Public Service Commission regulators or regional electric grid operators, according to an article in Maryland Matters.

Grant funding will be allocated with a competitive auction, prioritizing projects that deliver the most megawatts per dollar. Renewable energy generation and storage developers must include proof that local elected officials were notified of the proposed project, plans to engage the community and benefits that the community can expect. Qualified developers will be invited to submit a formal bid by Jan. 22, 2027.

“Renewable energy and energy storage projects are the quickest, cleanest, lowest cost option to develop local energy supply,” said Kelly Speakes-Backman, MEA director, in the press release. “We need more in-state power generation to meet energy demand and reduce costs. Megawatts for Maryland will support a more affordable, resilient, clean and flexible grid for all Marylanders.”