(Nov. 10, 2016) More than a dozen farms throughout the state will receive a share of nearly $570,000 in grants toward renewable energy solutions from a fund named for late Ocean City Clerk Kathleen Mathias, the Maryland Energy Administration announced last week.
One award recipient, Pebble Branch Farm, is situated near Pocomoke City. The grant pays up to half of eligible costs for agriculturally focused energy efficiency projects, and up to a quarter of the cost for renewable energy upgrades.
Pebble Branch Farm is a poultry operation, and is set to receive nearly $56,000 to install radiant heaters, air sealing, insulating brood curtains and insulated door tunnel upgrades.
According to the release announcing the award winners, these measures are expected to reduce energy use by 21 percent and will pay for itself in about nine years.
“The basis for all of it was because of Kathy’s deep involvement in public policy,” her widower, Sen. Jim Mathias, said.
Kathy Mathias died in 2011 of breast cancer, at home in Ocean City. She was 58.
“When we met in college, I was the city boy and she was the country girl. She told me how the primary transportation for her and her girlfriends to and from school was tractors,” Mathias said. Kathy was originally from Carroll County.
Her background in policy and in agriculture impressed then-Gov. Martin O’Malley when discussions were held concerning renewable energy in that sphere, Mathias said.
“He went ahead and decided to memorialize her with an energy grant and funded it. Every year it was funded we had applicants,” Mathias said. “When Gov. Hogan came in, I sat and talked with him and mentioned it. He’s continued to fund the grant.”
Mathias said agriculture is a cornerstone of his district.
Mathias explained that it takes about seven weeks, give or take, to bring a chicken to the market. He said he had a recent conversation with a farmer who had six houses, and his electric bill for those two months was about $15,000.
“Any time efficiency can be brought to a farm — from solar, wind or other applications — the farmer is looking closely at what he can afford. Kathy’s grant allows them this opportunity,” he said. “Every time the sun shines, these programs give life to the next day in farming.”
This year, up to $650,000 is available for eligible energy efficiency measures, and another $250,000 for renewable energy projects, according to the Maryland Energy Administration’s website.
Applications for next year’s round of funding are available via the MEA’s website, energy.maryland.gov. The application is eight pages long and is due by Thursday, Dec. 15.
The MEA will hold two informational webinars on this topic later this month. The first is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 1 p.m., and the next is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 30.
One award recipient, Pebble Branch Farm, is situated near Pocomoke City. The grant pays up to half of eligible costs for agriculturally focused energy efficiency projects, and up to a quarter of the cost for renewable energy upgrades.
Pebble Branch Farm is a poultry operation, and is set to receive nearly $56,000 to install radiant heaters, air sealing, insulating brood curtains and insulated door tunnel upgrades.
According to the release announcing the award winners, these measures are expected to reduce energy use by 21 percent and will pay for itself in about nine years.
“The basis for all of it was because of Kathy’s deep involvement in public policy,” her widower, Sen. Jim Mathias, said.
Kathy Mathias died in 2011 of breast cancer, at home in Ocean City. She was 58.
“When we met in college, I was the city boy and she was the country girl. She told me how the primary transportation for her and her girlfriends to and from school was tractors,” Mathias said. Kathy was originally from Carroll County.
Her background in policy and in agriculture impressed then-Gov. Martin O’Malley when discussions were held concerning renewable energy in that sphere, Mathias said.
“He went ahead and decided to memorialize her with an energy grant and funded it. Every year it was funded we had applicants,” Mathias said. “When Gov. Hogan came in, I sat and talked with him and mentioned it. He’s continued to fund the grant.”
Mathias said agriculture is a cornerstone of his district.
Mathias explained that it takes about seven weeks, give or take, to bring a chicken to the market. He said he had a recent conversation with a farmer who had six houses, and his electric bill for those two months was about $15,000.
“Any time efficiency can be brought to a farm — from solar, wind or other applications — the farmer is looking closely at what he can afford. Kathy’s grant allows them this opportunity,” he said. “Every time the sun shines, these programs give life to the next day in farming.”
This year, up to $650,000 is available for eligible energy efficiency measures, and another $250,000 for renewable energy projects, according to the Maryland Energy Administration’s website.
Applications for next year’s round of funding are available via the MEA’s website, energy.maryland.gov. The application is eight pages long and is due by Thursday, Dec. 15.
The MEA will hold two informational webinars on this topic later this month. The first is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 1 p.m., and the next is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 30.