Baltimore
City Scorecard Rank
24
Baltimore, MD
41.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 5.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2022, Mayor Scott announced an updated set of goals for the City's Climate Action Plan. The updated goals include a 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 100% by 2045, using a 2007 baseline. ACEEE projects the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
Energy Efficiency Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: August 2023
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equitable Community Outreach
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies. However, as part of planning for the 2019 Baltimore Sustainability Plan, the city recruited 125 volunteer ambassadors who represented the racial demographics of Baltimore. The ambassadors conducted surveys in their communities, and as a result, black residents accounted for 47% of respondents.
Equitable decision-making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
Baltimore's Equity Assessment Program requires city agencies to assess existing and proposed policies and practices for disparate outcomes based on race, gender, or income.
Last updated: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: August 2023
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
Baltimore adopted several policies and programs which mitigate the city’s urban heat island effect. In carrying out its obligations under the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, the city has adopted a land conservation policy that requires sites undergoing development to preserve land with at 20,000 square feet of forest, steep slopes, streams, and wetlands. The TransForm Baltimore Zoning Code also provides development bonuses for the permanent preservation of open space. Baltimore’s Variance Policy for Specimen Tree Removal protects trees that are at least 20 inches diameter at breast height.
The city’s Office of Sustainability created the Baltimore Green Network Plan to increase green spaces that achieve more equitable and resilient outcomes for the city.
Resilience Hubs
Baltimore's Community Resiliency Hub Program aims to outfit Community Resiliency Hub partner organizations with solar power and battery back-up capabilities. This helps increase access to renewable energy and back-up power in LMI (low to moderate income) communities, reduces the utility cost burden for community organizations, and provides community training and workforce development opportunities.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 8.5 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Maryland is a home rule state and allows local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes that are more stringent than the minimum state requirements, or to suit their local conditions. Maryland has adopted IECC 2021 effective May 29, 2023. Local jurisdictions have until May 20, 2024 to start implementing and enforcing these requirements. The Baltimore building code is currently based on the Maryland Building Performance Standards and IECC 2018. To learn more about the required building codes for the State of Maryland, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Baltimore has adopted the 2019 version of Maryland Building Performance Standards (IECC 2018) for commercial construction into the Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 50.25.
Residential
Baltimore has adopted the 2019 version of Maryland Building Performance Standards (IECC 2018) for residential construction into the Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 52.39.
Solar-readiness policies
The City does not require solar PV system installation for new construction.
EV-charging readiness
The city has not passed an ordinance mandating new construction be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
All public buildings and public school buildings that are built new or substantially renovated must achieve LEED Silver certification.
Electrification:
Baltimore has not adopted policies to encourage the elimination of fossil fuels, such as building emissions standards, all-electric readiness provisions, or all-electric requirements for new construction.
Last updated: August 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Baltimore does not have staff specifically dedicated to building energy code enforcement. The city requires plan reviews for building permit approval and field inspections for approval of occupancy permits. The city does not provide upfront support on energy code compliance.
Last updated: August 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
Baltimore offers residential, commercial, and multifamily property owners access to property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for both energy efficiency and solar energy projects.
Through the High-Performance Market-Rate Rental Housing ordinance, the city offers a tax credit for buildings that achieve LEED Silver or higher.
Baltimore’s Housing Department assists low-income households with energy efficiency improvements through their Energy Conservation Services.
Through the LIGHT program, the city matches households with available services to perform home weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades.
The Retrofit Baltimore initiative connects low-income residents with energy-efficiency resources. The city also runs a bulk solar purchasing program through the Retrofit Baltimore initiative.
Baltimore partnered with Healthy Neighborhoods, a local nonprofit, to provide low-interest loans and grants for energy-efficient upgrades to low-income nonprofits and small businesses.
Baltimore Shines, a partnership between the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development, Civic Works, the Abell Foundation, and Baltimore Gas and Electric, helps low-income residents access solar energy through either rooftop installations or community solar projects.
The Baltimore City Community Resiliency Hub Program supports solar plus battery storage system installations at organizations.
Equitable Program Outcomes
We could not find information on whether the city collects data on incentive and financing programs to ensure equitable outcomes.
Last updated: August 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Transportation
Score: 15 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Baltimore Sustainability Plan was adopted in 2019 and includes sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Baltimore does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Baltimore does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: August 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
In 2017, the City of Baltimore revised its zoning code and created several new mixed-use zoning districts, including the industrial mixed-use, office-industrial campus, rowhouse mixed-use overlay, and detached dwelling mixed-use overlay districts. The zoning update also included a new transit-oriented development district.
Parking Requirement
The City of Baltimore does not require minimum parking for certain rowhouse developments. Baltimore has also established parking maximums for multifamily developments, but these do not increase the city's score on this metric because the maximums are greater than 0.5 spaces per housing unit.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Baltimore does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Baltimore does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
BONUS: Equitable EV Charging
Baltimore Parking Authority is working to deploy EV charging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities by installing publicly-accessible charging infrastructure in coordination with other city agencies. The Parking Authority aims to install 30% of stations in Equity Zones, which are census tracts that contain the lowest quartile of median income.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
The City of Baltimore does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Baltimore does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
LINK by Superpedestrian and Spin, the shared micromobility operators in Baltimore, offer discounted fares for income-qualifying riders. Additionally, residents living in food deserts can take up to 8 subsidized, flat-rate Lyft rides per month to participating grocery stores through the Baltimore Grocery Access Program.
Last Updated: August 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Baltimore have received $84,370,318.80 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $10.80 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Baltimore's AllTransit Performance Score is 8.4, scoring 3 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: August 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Baltimore nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Baltimore Gas and Electric offers rebates of 50% on charging stations for multifamily properties, small businesses, and local nonprofits. The rebates cover up to $5,000 per charging port for Level 2 chargers and up to $15,000 for DC Fast chargers.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Baltimore does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Akron has 112.2 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Baltimore nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
SB 0137 was enacted in 2021, which prohibits the Maryland Transit Administration (the primary bus operator in Baltimore) from purchasing buses that are not zero-emission beginning in 2023. The MTA is aiming to transition at least 50% of its bus fleet to zero-emission buses by 2030.
Last Updated: August 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Baltimore does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portals
The City of Baltimore does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: August 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 22.5 out of 40
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary gas and electric utility serving the City of Baltimore. To help BG&E reach the EERS target, the City of Baltimore promotes of BG&E’s energy efficiency programs. The State of Maryland requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS and requires documentation of planned energy efficiency programs to the Public Service Commission annually. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency please visit the Maryland page of the State Database.
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works provides Baltimore with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: September 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, BG&E reported 558,118 MWh in electric net incremental savings at the meter.
In 2023, BG&E reported 3.54 MMtherms in net gas savings at the meter.
BG&E offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers. BG&E offers a suite of programs under their Smart Energy Savers program. These programs are supported by a surcharge on the utility bill mandated under the State of Maryland’s EmPower MD program. The City participates in the Public Service Commission’s EmPower working group which helps provide information, assistance and recommendations to PSC Commissioners on EmPower MD programs.
The Baltimore Energy Initiative and the Baltimore Energy Challenge promote the BG&E Smart Energy Savers programs to residents and businesses, and the City collaborates with BG&E on how the City’s Energy Challenge and other programs can widen the marketing reach for BG&E programs. The Baltimore Energy Initiative Loan Program assists nonprofits and small businesses in increasing their energy efficiency through upgrades to their facilities.
Baltimore City’s Office of Sustainability prepares Baltimore City for aging infrastructure, a growing population, changing climate, and a progressing economy. The Office focuses on energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste and recycling, clean air and water, local food systems, education, outreach, alternative transportation, and social equity. BGE collaborates with the Office of Sustainability to help them achieve their energy savings goals.
Last Updated: September 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Baltimore Gas and Electric offers the EmPOWER Low Income Energy Efficiency Program to qualified low-income residents, including both renters and homeowners. This program is implemented by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and offers both single-family and multifamily low-income dual fuel programs. The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development partners with the State and BGE to administer and implement local low-income efficiency programs. These programs provide no-cost energy efficiency upgrades including installation of insulation, air sealing, replacement of old refrigerators and HVAC systems, health and safety measures, and water efficiency measures. DHCD streamlines eligibility requirements by automatically approving applicants from the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs for the EmPOWER Maryland programs.
In 2021, BGE achieved 4,985 MWh in energy savings on its electricity program while spending $11,547,075 and serving 2,558 households.
In 2021, BGE’s low-income energy efficiency programs achieved 0.1 MMtherms in energy savings on its natural gas program while spending, $3,602,517 and serving 2,558 households.
The City of Baltimore allocates additional funding to support the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Multifamily Programs
Baltimore Gas and Electric offers two Multifamily energy efficiency programs. The first, the Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability (MEEHA) program, is a comprehensive program that provides loans and grants to multifamily rental properties for energy audits and the purchase/installation of energy saving measures. While it is funded by BGE through the EmPower Maryland Energy efficiency program, it is run and administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD MD).
Energy efficiency measures eligible for funding include lighting retrofits, hot water heater retrofits and replacements, ENERGY STAR qualified HVAC systems, insulation, windows, draft stopping and duct sealing, appliances and fixtures, hot water conservation measures, and renewable energy generation and water heating equipment. The second program is the residential Multifamily Quick Home Energy Check-Up program, which offers the direct install of high efficiency LEDs, efficient-flow showerheads, pipe insulation, efficient-flow faucet aerators, ShowerStart thermostatic shut-off valves (TSVs), water heater temperature turndowns, and smart strips to BGE residential customers, at no additional charge to the customer.
In 2021, BGE’s multifamily energy efficiency electricity programs achieved 866 MWh in energy savings while serving 731 households. The expense for these programs was not recorded at the multifamily level.
In 2021, BGE’s multifamily energy efficiency gas programs achieved 0.0024 MMtherms in savings while serving 2,139 households. The expense for these programs was not recorded at the multifamily level.
Last Updated: September 2023
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
BGE provides benchmarking for multi-family and commercial customers with automated energy consumption data inputs directly into the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
The city of Baltimore provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through their GHG Inventory and is requested and provided annually for reporting, planning, and evaluation purposes. BGE provides community-wide energy usage information to Baltimore City government agencies upon request for community planning and evaluation purposes. BGE also provides semi-annually a County zip code report to the various counties and Baltimore City within its service territory, but this report excludes some programs.The 2019 Baltimore Sustainability Plan has identified "total electricity and natural gas consumption per capita" as a measure of success for tracking and reporting.
In 2019, the Baltimore City Council passed Resolution 19-0127R, advocating for the Maryland General Assembly to create legislation requiring the Public Service Commission to collect and analyze retail electric and natural gas supplier actual rates, usage, and zip-code information and data for residential customers, eliminate retail supplier individual residential market contracts, make aggregated supply options that would lower costs available to households, and enact additional consumer pricing and contract safeguards for all Maryland residents who choose third-party energy supply.
Last Updated: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
Exelon, the parent company of BG&E, has a goal to reduce its operations-driven emissions 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
In 2020 the Baltimore City Council passed Council Bill 20-0197R, a Council Resolution Concerning Support of Senate Bill 315/House Bill 561 on Community Choice Energy. The bill died in committee during the 2020 legislative session, and if passed would have authorized a county, municipality, or group of jurisdictions to form or join a community choice aggregator.
The City of Baltimore supported efforts by advocates and submitted testimony to support increasing the state of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). After two years of efforts, the state approved an increased RPS to 50% of the total grid by 2030 and requires the state to examine pathways for achieving 100% clean power by 2040.
In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 768 which gave Montgomery County the authority to implement a pilot Community Choice Energy Program no earlier than April 2023. Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in Maryland that currently has the authority to implement such a program.
This is not currently being pursued in Baltimore, however it is a solution being discussed as part of the City's Climate Action Plan update. Such a program may be identified as an action in the 2023 Climate Action Plan update when it is adopted.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Baltimore has installed 13 MW of onsite and offsite renewable energy generation capacity.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Baltimore offers residential, commercial, and multifamily property owners access to property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for both energy efficiency and solar energy projects.
Through the High-Performance Market-Rate Rental Housing ordinance, the city offers a tax credit for buildings that achieve LEED Silver or higher.
The Retrofit Baltimore initiative connects low-income residents with energy-efficiency resources. The city also runs a bulk solar purchasing program through the Retrofit Baltimore initiative.
Baltimore Shines, a partnership between the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development, Civic Works, the Abell Foundation, and Baltimore Gas and Electric, helps low-income residents access solar energy through either rooftop installations or community solar projects.
The Baltimore City Community Resiliency Hub Program supports solar plus battery storage system installations at organizations.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy utility does not currently provide efficiency programs alongside the water utility, but BG&E does offer some water efficiency measures alongside its energy efficiency programs. Additionally, Blue Water Baltimore provides free water audits and rebates for rain barrels, green roofs, water heaters, and other conservation landscaping to all city residents. The Department of Public Works has also expanded their BaltiMeter project, which aims to replace water metering infrastructure and upgrade the meter reading system.
The Department of Public Works has not yet established a water efficiency goal and does not have any funded programs to help customers save water.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The Department of Public Works uses energy use data to address efficiency issues, but the city does not a specific strategy in place.
Baltimore’s Back River wastewater treatment facilities have a system to generate 3 MW of energy to be used on-site from methane recapture. DPW operates a 2MW combined heat and power plant which uses methane produced by the anaerobic digestion process.
Last Updated: September 2023
Local Government Score:
3 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
The City of Baltimore formally adopted the 2019 Sustainability Plan to drive climate and energy action in both the community and municipal operations.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The 2019 Sustainability Plan establishes a goal to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2007 levels by 2023. The goals align with those put forth by the Paris Climate Agreement. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will not meet its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
The city does not have a comprehensive goal to reduce energy use in municipal facilities, but the city's Strategic Management Energy Plan established a goal to reduce municipal electricity use by 30% below 2006 levels by 2022.
Renewable Energy Goal
Baltimore aims to use renewable energy to power 20% of city-owned building energy use by 2022. As of 2020, the City has achieved renewable energy use of 18% for City-owned buildings and anticipates being able to achieve the 20% goal by 2022.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Baltimore adopted a Transportation Petroleum Goal to reduce petroleum usage 20% by 2017. The City adopted a strategy to reduce vehicle fuel consumption by replacing the average age of the fleet, by aggressively replacing older vehicles with newer and more efficient vehicles. In 2020 and 2021 the City is purchasing 19 battery electric vehicles. In 2020, Baltimore purchased 25 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Ford Escapes and 50 Ford Explore Hybrid Pursuit vehicles. Baltimore's municipal fleet is currently composed of 0.41% efficient vehicles, including hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
On December 5, 2011, the Mayor of Baltimore signed an amendment to Baltimore City Code Article 26 § 13-1, titled "Street lamps, etc." This revision added the statement that the "Department of Transportation must…ensure that, on or before June 30th 2013, all city electric street lamps are equipped with energy efficient light emitting diode lights or similar cost-effective technology." The Baltimore Complete Streets Manual, projected to be adopted in 2021, includes lighting guidelines which specify that figure selection should meet the recommendations of CIE 126-1997, Guidelines for Minimizing Sky Glow and specify that programmable lighting should be set so that lights are dimmed or completely extinguished when sufficient daylight is available. All traffic lights have been changed to LEDs.
In 2012, the city switched the first 11,000 streetlights to LEDs. In 2014, the city conducted an LED light pilot. Although, lights do not have motion sensors, the city’s exterior street, building and sports lighting have photocells and operate only during certain hours. In 2018, Baltimore’s Department of Transportation & Office of Sustainable Energy awarded a contract to replace 12,304 streetlamps with LED fixtures using financing paid by the energy savings. This is projected to save 11,976,100 kWh per year. Baltimore has converted 75% of streetlights to LED.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
The City has installed 13 MW of onsite and offsite renewable energy generation capacity.
Inclusive procurement
Article 5, Subtitle 28 (Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises; Small Local Business Enterprises) of the Baltimore City code requires that the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office (WBOO) establish appropriate MBE and WBE participation goals on each specific City contract, including energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The City’s most recent energy efficiency project to install LED lights at a Filtration plant had a MBWE requirement of 30%. The City’s current RFP for an off-site renewable power purchasing agreement has an MBWE goal of 30%.
Last updated: May 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Baltimore benchmarks municipal energy use for approximately 14 million square feet of City facilities in an internal database, which represents 85% of the City's square footage. The DGS Division of Capital Projects and Energy is in the process of rebuilding the utility management database and reviews energy use on a quarterly and ad hoc basis. Baltimore's 2019 Sustainability Plan lists an action item to develop and pass a benchmarking legislation and a annual disclosure ordinance for energy and water use.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Baltimore, through the Division of Capital Projects and Energy, in the Department of General Services, engages in a comprehensive analysis of all energy used by city functions. The City of Baltimore started energy retrofits on buildings with over 25,000 ft² in 2004. Since then, 60% of buildings have undergone efficiency retrofits. When a building is considered, the City conducts a comprehensive assessment of all energy usage and work to implement savings through the HVAC, building envelope, and lighting systems.
Last updated: June 2021