Joy Togo
Senior Associate,
Building Innovation Hub
The Hub team recently joined clean-tech leaders, regulators, advocates, innovators and industry experts, at the two-day Maryland Clean Energy Summit hosted by the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC). The event, called “New Frontiers: AI, Energy & Innovation,” offered a comprehensive look at how Maryland is navigating the clean energy transition while prioritizing sustainability, grid resilience and ratepayer affordability and protection under key policy developments like the Maryland Utility RELIEF Act.
A big topic of conversation throughout the plenary sessions was the explosive growth of AI and data centers. As high-tech energy demands skyrocket alongside state decarbonization targets, modernizing our grid infrastructure to handle these massive loads has quickly moved to center stage.
Beyond the grid, we joined conversations about clean energy financing and overcoming barriers that keep great projects from moving forward. A standing theme was that as funding options shift, successfully bringing these projects to life relies on connecting with the right partners early and combining grants, such as the MEA Commercial & Community Buildings Grant Program, tax incentives, with private financing. As well as ensuring that projects are ‘finance ready’ with a clear case for investment and right partners involved early. Supported by insights from state policy leaders, conversations focused on accelerating project timelines, streamlining permitting friction, and ensuring equitable capital deployment
This hit close to home for us. It connects directly to our day-to-day work at the Hub: helping building owners understand their options, prepare for investment, and take that next confident step toward better-performing buildings. The Hub came away re-energized to continue advancing equitable clean energy solutions in our own community work.