SU Earns $900,000 Higher Education Clean Energy Grant
By SU Public Relations
SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University was recently named a recipient of a $900,000 Higher Education Clean Energy Grant through the Maryland Energy Administration to increase the amount of clean energy generated on campus.
The funds are the latest resource in SU’s net zero Blackwell Hall renovation project. The grant will go toward the building’s solar roof installation.
“SU has a goal to be a net-zero campus by 2045 and to do that we must prioritize cutting back on carbon emissions and using energy from renewable sources,” said Christopher Homeister, director of campus sustainability. “This grant helps offset resources we need to make Blackwell Hall one of the first net-zero buildings in the University System of Maryland (USM), operating with a zero net carbon footprint and representing a significant leap forward in SU’s commitment to sustainability.”
The grant project also includes a campus clean energy master plan and student intern collaboration.
This year’s grant recipients included 11 higher education institutions who earned a total $10.17 million funded by the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which reinvests proceeds from greenhouse gas-emissions auctions and alternative compliance payments from utilities into a wide variety of programs. The fund helps reduce Marylanders’ energy bills, minimizes energy waste, creates jobs, promotes energy independence, and improves reliability and resiliency.
SU has earned a number of state and national sustainability accolades, most recently having been named a 2025 Plastic Reduction Partner Certification by the National Wildlife Federation. It is among the 30 most sustainable colleges and universities in the U.S. according to The Princeton Review.
SU also is one of only 10 higher education institutions in the U.S. named a Top Performer in Energy by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and is an AASHE STARS Bronze Award winner.
“SU strives to be a leader in sustainability among the state’s higher education institutions and a model of green best practices in our region,” said Homeister. “We always want to be among those paving the way forward and exceed expectations in this field.”
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.