Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has announced the launch of the state’s new Megawatts for Maryland program, developed and administered through the Maryland Energy Administration.

The two-stage, two-year auction program will award grants to renewable energy generation and battery storage project developers, according to Gov. Moore’s office. Drawing on up to $100 million per year from Maryland’s Strategic Energy Investment Fund, the grants will help to offset costs associated with grid-scale renewable energy development and construction.

“We’re using every tool at our disposal to bring Marylanders relief as energy costs skyrocket in our region and across the country,” Gov. Moore says. “This program will tackle rising electricity demand with cleaner, cheaper, in-state energy generation that will drive down costs for the long-term.”

The Moore-Miller administration expects the new program to produce “several hundred” of the aforementioned megawatts for the state of Maryland. Alongside the state’s newly-signed Utility RELIEF Act, and a December 2025 executive order supporting energy affordability and generation, the new initiative is part of the governor’s push to lower energy costs for residents of the Terrapin State.

Filling in the gaps

The program also partially comes as a response to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which heavily cut federal solar funding after its signing on July 4, 2025. Gov. Moore’s office says the new program will fill the investment gaps the sitting president created through the OBBBA, which canceled investment tax credits signed into law by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Renewable energy and energy storage projects are the quickest, cleanest, lowest cost option to develop local energy supply,” says Kelly Speakes-Backman, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “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.”

As energy demand continues to rise, renewable energy capacity and generation have become top priorities, especially in the northeastern U.S. The Maryland Energy Administration says the new program will provide enough power to support more than 150,000 Marylander homes once all projects are complete.

“Lowering costs for Maryland families remains our top priority,” Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson says. “That’s why we passed Megawatts for Maryland last session — to bring more clean, renewable energy onto our grid, increase supply, and help lower utility bills. Marylanders deserve real relief from rising costs, and we will continue taking decisive action to deliver lasting affordability for families across our state.”

The application deadline for Stage 1 of the Megawatts for Maryland program, set to award grants in 2026, is open now through Nov. 30. Eligible stage 1 applicants may bid into stage 2, which has a deadline of Jan. 22, 2027. More information on the program and its bidding process is available on the Maryland Energy Administration’s website.

— Solar Builder magazine