EVSE Installations

The Community Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grant Program, administered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), aims to enhance access to reliable and affordable EV charging infrastructure across Maryland. This funding opportunity, specifically under Area of Interest 2 (AOI 2), focuses on the installation of Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle charging systems at public, community-oriented, and multifamily housing properties. The program serves as part of Maryland’s broader effort to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in overburdened and underserved communities. The total funding allocation for this area is anticipated to be $9 million for Fiscal Year 2026, with separate funding pools designated for public/community properties and multifamily housing locations. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of organizations such as businesses, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, local education agencies, municipal and county governments, and Maryland-recognized Tribal governments. Residential homeowners and state or federal government agencies are excluded. Applicants must either own the property or be working on behalf of the property owner, and the EVSE installations must occur in Maryland on qualified public or multifamily properties. Projects must include a minimum of two charging ports and may be reimbursed for eligible expenses like engineering, utility upgrades, construction, hardware, and select operations and maintenance costs. Ineligible costs include Level 1 chargers, marketing, vehicle purchases, and site acquisition, among others. The grant program employs a competitive statewide selection process. Each proposal must include detailed project narratives, engineering or site plans, budget workbooks, quotes, and verification documents such as a Certificate of Status from Maryland’s State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Applications must be submitted via the designated JotForm portal. The submission deadline is February 25, 2026, by 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Grant disbursements are reimbursement-based and contingent upon documentation of eligible expenses. Maximum award caps vary depending on the applicant type, with county governments and local education agencies eligible for up to $1,000,000, and other entities capped at $750,000. Evaluation of applications is based on a scoring rubric with criteria including project feasibility, justification and alignment with program goals, cost-effectiveness, and contribution to underserved areas. Additional emphasis is placed on technical readiness, equipment reliability (97% uptime is required), and the inclusion of operational and maintenance plans. Public accessibility and siting in overburdened communities are prioritized, as is the use of ENERGY STAR-certified equipment and tools like Maryland’s EV Charging Suitability tool and MDEnviroscreen for community assessments. All selected projects must comply with federal, state, and local accessibility regulations. Quarterly reports are mandatory during implementation and for five years post-commissioning to ensure performance and maintenance standards are upheld. MEA may retain 10% of the grant amount for performance-based disbursement in cases where third-party operators are involved, pending satisfactory uptime data. MEA reserves the right to inspect installation sites post-award. Program contact points are Anna Stern (Program Manager) and Diego Lopez (Deputy Assistant Division Director), both reachable at [email protected]. Interested applicants can access the full funding opportunity document and submission portal on the MEA website. Selection notifications are expected in Summer 2026. While this is a competitive opportunity, partial funding may be offered based on fund availability and proposal rankings. The grant cycle is recurring, providing future opportunities for resubmission or engagement.

Prioritize 97% equipment uptime; Use MDOT EV Suitability tool; Demonstrate benefit to overburdened communities.