NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2020Contact Information: Office of Strategic Communications / mediainfo@umd.edu UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NEXTGEN PROGRAM APPROVED, DESIGNATED AS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2020Contact Information:  Office of Strategic Communications / mediainfo@umd.edu UMD ANNOUNCES NEXTGEN ENERGY PROGRAM PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER SHORT LISTCOLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland today announced a short list of potential partners for the NextGen Energy Program. This announcement follows a recent Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design, engineer, finance, install and maintain the university’s energy system.

In 1995, the University of Maryland (UMD) faced a difficult situation: it needed to find more than $50 million to correct an aging steam generation and electric distribution system. The university’s only option for financing was issuance of debt by the University System, Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), or another state entity. The capital funds request was denied by the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the university was encouraged to explore alternative options, such as a Public-Private Partnership (P3).

The University of Maryland is redoubling its efforts to fight climate change, committing to carbon neutrality by 2025 through a mix of infrastructure improvement, electric vehicle purchases and targeted investments in sustainability. UMD President Darryll J. Pines announced the new goal, which lops a quarter century off a previous plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, during his inauguration speech last week.

  With President Darryll J. Pines accelerating plans to make the University of Maryland campus carbon-neutral by 2025, a long-term program to replace the community’s aging energy infrastructure is taking on even greater importance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2022 Contact Information: Aynsley Toews, Strategic Initiatives & Projects Officer, Facilities Management of the University of Maryland / atoews@umd.edu UMD Announces NextGen Energy Program Private Sector Partner Finalists The two finalists will be asked to submit final proposals that include measures to make the decarbonization of campus heating and cooling by 2035 realizable.

The University of Maryland will seek the state’s approval to replace the campus’ aging power, boiler and chiller plants and key portions of the thermal distribution system as part of a long-term plan to pursue sustainable, fossil fuel-free energy alternatives. A $390 million investment in campus infrastructure, the NextGen Energy Program stands to significantly improve energy service on campus and result in immediate environmental impact, including cutting carbon emissions by 23% and reducing water consumption by 50% a year.