Nonprofit offers bright spot for MD residents to fight rising energy costs

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On June 1, higher electricity rates went into effect across Maryland. Couple that with increasing temperatures and the high density of concrete and steel buildings, row houses and lack of green space, and you can see why customers in Baltimore and around the state can expect their bills to go up, on average, $276 per year, or $23 per month.

This increase will be difficult for everyone, but especially for low- and moderate-income households. Many homeowners are exploring alternative energy sources and looking for ways to cut costs, but when a family’s income is low, often so are their options.

Enter Civic Works, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that, according to its website, strengthens “communities for people of all ages through education, skills development and community service.” In partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, they operate Baltimore Shines. Since 2015, they’ve been offering free rooftop solar photovoltaic installations to low- and moderate-income Baltimore City residents, while strengthening job opportunities for residents through training and placement in the solar industry.

The program aligns with DHCD’s Vacant Property Prevention Strategy by reducing homeowner costs and creating and supporting sustainable neighborhoods. Once installed, the panels are estimated to eliminate 80 to 100 percent of a family’s electricity bills, while increasing a home’s value, on average, by 4% and helping decrease carbon emissions across the city.

Thanks to a recent influx of funding, Civic Works aims to install solar on 170 homes in the City by the end of its 2026 fiscal year. According to Eli Allen, Senior Program Director, Civic Works, they’ve completed 18 installations and have an additional 91 homes in progress.

Success through a unique operating model

Civic Works’ pre-paid, 20-year lease model eliminates financial risk for homeowners while ensuring they benefit from the savings. They own, operate and maintain each system for a 20-year lease term. The goal is to transfer the lease to the homeowner after that time.

Allen said they “designed the program to benefit from federal funding, but not to rely on federal funding.” Funding includes the Maryland Energy Administration, Baltimore City grants, federal tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act and Solar Renewable Energy Credits; residents don’t pay anything to participate. As a nonprofit, Civic Works receives the tax credits on behalf of the homeowner and passes the savings to them.

William Gibson is a Baltimore City homeowner who is much happier with his bill from Baltimore Gas & Electric these days. When the panels were installed almost two years ago on his 1925 single-family home in the Forest Park neighborhood of Northwest Baltimore, he watched his electric bill, as high as $300 to $400 per month during the winter, immediately drop to almost zero, outside of taxes and fees.

And it’s been almost zero ever since.

“It was a surprise,” he said. “I’m on a fixed income, and this helps my bottom line tremendously.”

Also helping his bottom line? The refunds he’s received from BGE; he offsets the electricity he buys from BGE with the solar he uses and appreciates that “once a year they pay me something for the overage.”

The installation and activation process, which takes approximately three to six months, starts with a simple energy services application available on the Civic Works website. Applicants must reside in Baltimore, own their home and have a total household income that falls below a threshold set by the number of people in the home.

A Civic Works energy advisor contacts the homeowner to set up a roof assessment and energy audit. If the project moves forward and the assessment uncovers any issues with the roof, Civic Works resolves them at no cost to the homeowner. Opportunities for energy savings discovered during the energy audit, like air leaks, need for insulation, opportunities to switch traditional lightbulbs to LEDs, etc., are integrated into the plan and typically resolved, also at no cost, at the same time at the solar panel installation.

Civic Works manages the program from end to end, including applying for permits, ensuring appropriate connection of the panels to the energy supplier, installing and commissioning the system and applying with the utility company for permission to operate. Once a system is activated, Civic Works maintains it, which includes visiting the installations. Gibson says Civic Works regularly comes to check the condition of his roof and the panels, “especially after storms, and they make any repairs at no cost.”

Training the next generation of solar installers

Installations are completed through a combination of local contractors and installers enrolled in Civic Works solar training program. In addition to providing paid on-the-job experience, the three-month workforce development program for Baltimore residents includes OSHA and site assessment training and hands-on solar construction training in the Civic Works Solar Construction lab. Graduates leave with the technical skills they need and are prepared to work in the solar industry.

Civic Works uses its network of contacts to place graduates into full-time roles; to date, it has placed 174 students who continue to progress in the field. “The goal is to connect everyone who graduates with opportunities” Allen said.

They have strong partners across the region who employ graduates in both Civic Works and other solar projects and roles. “We’ve seen graduates progress into crew leader, project management and management positions,” he explained, “and see them continue in solar years after graduation.”

A bright future for Baltimore City residents

Civic Works anticipates that the 170 solar installations will save city residents over $200k annually and reduce emissions by over 700 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. When they set the goal of 170, Allen explained, it was with the idea that they wanted to surpass it.

“It was both an ambitious and realistic goal, but we want to continue to raise funding,” he explained, “To ultimately complete as many roof replacements and repairs as possible and ensure this can be part of a comprehensive, potentially transformational project for homeowners in Baltimore City.”