HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                          47

mortgage contract or other agreement, and to bid for and purchase
the property at any foreclosure or at any other sale, or acquire
and take possession of the property; and in either event the
Administration may complete, administer, pay the principal of and
interest on any obligations incurred in connection with the
property, dispose of, and otherwise deal with the property, in a
manner as may be necessary or desirable to protect the interests
of the Administration. Any lien held by the Administration on
property shall be a lien superior to all other liens on the
property except liens for taxes owed to the State of Maryland or
any subdivision thereof and earlier mortgage liens. The
Administration may sell any mortgage or other obligation held by
it, at public or private sale, with or without public bidding,
including the sale of such obligations and commitments to the
solar energy and energy conservation bank pursuant to Title V of
the Energy Security Act, P.L. 96-294.

[(b)] (II) Coordinate the promotion of its
programs of financial assistance for energy conservation projects
with the energy conservation promotion programs of the Maryland
Energy Office.

[(c)] (III) Coordinate its programs of
financial assistance for energy conservation and solar energy
projects with the activities of the Maryland Energy Office,
public utilities, and other organizations involved in
implementing the residential conservation service program under
Titles II and VII of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act,
P.L. 95-619, and, in particular, the Administration shall apply
for inclusion on any master list of lenders compiled by the
Maryland Energy Office in conjunction with the residential
conservation service program and otherwise participate in the
program.

[(d)] (IV) The Administration shall take all
actions necessary to participate in the programs of financial
assistance for energy conservation projects and solar energy
projects under Title V, Subtitle A of the Energy Security Act,
P.L. 96-294. In furtherance thereof, the Administration shall be
specifically deemed to be, for purposes of that Act, a "financial
institution", as defined in Title V, Subtitle A, § 504(9) of that
Act.

[(e) (1)] (V) 1. Consistent with the provisions
of this subheading that generally concern the powers of the
Administration to award financial assistance for energy
conservation projects and solar energy projects, the
Administration shall adopt policies and rules and regulations to
establish and implement programs of financial assistance to
eligible persons for energy conservation projects and solar
energy projects as authorized by this subheading.

[(2)] 2. The policies and rules and
regulations adopted by the Administration under this subsection
shall include provisions concerning: