Public-private partnership will bring transformative microgrid technology to new low-to-moderate income residential construction project in Prince George’s County

Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) along with Pepco and Emera Technologies, have been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to construct a new residential microgrid to power a small subdivision of highly energy efficient single family homes in Fairmount Heights, Maryland.

The grant builds on efforts catalyzed by MEA’s Resilient Maryland program and will support a community solar and battery energy storage system, as well as the associated racking, mounting, and wiring equipment, for six low-to-moderate income households. This innovative pilot project, which received design and feasibility funding in 2020, will enable the community to generate its own energy independent of the electrical grid.

HIP expects to break ground on Phase I of the development in the fall of 2022. 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. These rigorous requirements ensure energy savings, comfort, health, and durability. HIP will market the homes to first-time homebuyers earning 80 percent or less of the area median income in the summer of 2023.

Click here for the full press release and additional details regarding the announcement.

See Links to story mentions below:

— Block Energy

— Solar Times

— Yahoo Finance

— Microgrid Knowledge

— Daily Energy Insider