Maryland Seeks Public Input on New Program to Help Buildings Meet Clean Energy Standards

Through its Clean Buildings Hub initiative, the Maryland Energy Administration published a request for information (RFI) that seeks feedback from industry stakeholders and building owners and operators for its forthcoming Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Technical Assistance Program.

Maryland’s BEPS regulations were required by the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 to move the state’s large buildings toward net-zero direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The new Maryland Energy Administration program will provide technical assistance to building owners and operators subject to Maryland’s BEPS to increase likelihood of compliance.

“The rationale of the Clean Buildings Hub is that with a little initial support, owners of our state’s largest buildings can take steps to reduce their onsite energy use and emissions. Technical assistance is one of the most cost-effective investments that the state government can make,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “Aside from helping these buildings comply with the BEPS requirements, they’ll be rewarded with lower operating costs.”  

The Maryland Energy Administration and the Clean Buildings Hub are seeking feedback in the following areas:

• Barriers and challenges that building owners and operators face in understanding their building or portfolio’s energy use and emissions
• Gaps in existing technical assistance offerings, and how the BEPS Technical Assistance program can be complementary or additive 
• Specific types of buildings, types of owners, or specific geographies in Maryland that the program should prioritize for assistance 

Specific questions for each category can be found in the RFI, which is available on the program webpage. Respondents are encouraged to reply by July 31, 2025, to best assist the Maryland Energy Administration in its BEPS Technical Assistance Program design, but will continue to be accepted continuously. Instructions on how to prepare and submit responses can be found in the RFI document.

Maryland Energy Administration | https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx