As natural resources become more scarce and electric and fuel costs continue to rise, it is important for businesses to look to alternative means of energy and ways to save on costs. Listed below are a variety of incentives and resources that can provide your business with important information on ways to save money and be more environmentally friendly.

Cost Benefits
The organizations listed below all provide information for businesses and homeowners to reduce energy spending.

• Builders for the Bay
  www.cwp.org/builders_for_bay.htm
• Energy Star
  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index
• U.S. Green Building Council / LEED
  www.usgbc.org
• Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance
  www.csballiance.org

Incentives
Maryland currently has several incentives available to businesses and residents who are interested in alternative forms of energy.

• Clean Energy Incentive Tax Credit
  http://taxpros.marylandtaxes.com/guides/taxcredit/cleanenergy/default.asp
• Green Building Tax Credit
  http://taxpros.marylandtaxes.com/guides/taxcredit/greenbldg/default.asp
• Solar Energy Grant Program
  http://www.energy.state.md.us/financial/commercial.htm
• Wind Anemometer Loans
  http://www.energy.state.md.us/financial/renewable.htm

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
TMDL will be used to implement State water quality standards based on the relationship between pollution sources and in-stream water quality conditions.http://www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/WaterPrograms/TMDL/home/index.asp