POLICY WATCH 2021
2021 SPECIAL SESSION SUMMARY
Maryland legislators took their seats in chambers on Monday, December 6, for the 2021 Special Legislative Session. Their mission included the debate of Redistricting Maps and the selection of a State Treasurer to replace retiring Nancy Kopp, who has served in the position since February 2002. With the return to chambers, the Maryland Constitution requires the body to address any vetoes exercised by the Governor after the regular session ended.
Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission
HB0001: Congressional Districting Plan
• Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission
• Passed House and Senate
• To Governor
The Assembly listed 21 bills to override during the special session. Three vetoes were sustained because the companion bill passed and was signed by the Governor. Six of the veto overrides pertained to the energy sector. The veto overrides were enacted according to Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution.
Veto Overrides
21 Bills
-
- 11 Cross-filed
- 3 Vetoes Sustained
• House Sustained these vetoes
• Senate Bills Passed
18 Bills enacted according to Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution
6 Bills pertained to the energy sector
-
- SB0095 / HB0174: Public Utilities - Investor-Owned Utilities - Prevailing Wage (Senator Kramer / Delegate Brooks)
- SB0417 / HB0777: Power Plant Research Program - Review of Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Alterations (Senator Pinsky / Delegate Brooks)
- SB0460 / HB0419: Economic Development - Advanced Clean Energy and Clean Energy Innovation Investments and Initiatives (Senator Feldman / Delegate Qi)
SUMMARY:
Broadens the definition of clean energy to include advanced energy and grid modernization technologies to include:
• Energy storage, Grid modernization and Demand Reduction
• Bio-tech in Clean Energy and Clean Agriculture
• Carbon dioxide removal, management and re-use
• Clean Fuels and Displacement of Energy-intensive products
• Mobility – EVs, vehicle automation, transportation systems
• Integrated systems – AI and ‘internet of things’
• New concepts in Nuclear Power to improve safety and lower costs
Clarifies the capability of MCEC to finance energy measures on state facilities
Alters the composition of the MCEC Board of Directors to include the Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
Provides a predictable, stable, and ongoing commitment of $2.1M to fund energy technology research and development activities through MEI2 and MCEC
2021 MCEC POLICY WATCH REPORT
The 442nd Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly began with presiding officers manning gavels behind masks with plexiglass between members in the chambers. Protections amid the COVID-19 pandemic included limited access to the state complex for the public, testing for members and staff, with virtual committee meetings and floor sessions allowing Marylanders to participate in the legislative process.
Legislators pre-filed more than 800 pieces of legislation addressing Police Reform and Accountability, Legalizing Sports Gambling, Immigration, Environmental Issues, and Economic Concerns resulting from the global health crisis. Extensive, often tested debates, were viewed virtually, while legislators voiced concerns and opinions.
MCEC staff tracked 105 pieces of legislation introduced during this session pertaining to Clean Energy. In summary, 44 bills relating to the Clean Energy Sector were returned passed. At the same time, 61 failed through withdrawal by the sponsor, receiving an unfavorable report, or failing to make it out of committee and cross over. Of the 44 bills tracked that passed, 7 passed the last day of the session. Several bills that failed made it through the chamber of origination and crossed to the opposing chamber, failing to make that final step.
Climate Crisis and Vehicle Electrification legislation accounted for the majority of energy-related bills introduced. Other legislation this session focused on:
- Environmental Justice and Climate Change
- Economic Development/Innovation Advancement
- Proposed RPS Alterations
- Vehicle Electrification and Incentives
- Utility Regulation
- Resilience
Among the bills introduced were initiatives addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy, Zero-Emission Vehicles, Emission Reduction Goals, Planning and Monitoring, and the Just Transition Employment and Retraining Working Group. Unfortunately, the Senate and House could not come to an agreement on the legislation. Several bills addressed underserved communities and access to energy assistance for low to moderate-income families. Additional legislation passed to enhance economic development, advanced clean energy innovation, and access to funding for remediation and resiliency programs.
The Governor hosted bill signings during the Legislative Session and Tuesday, April 13, 2021. A list of bills signed is available online. Additional bill signings typically occur every few weeks through the end of May. Due to public health concerns resulting from COVID-19, the events may not be public. For more information, visit www.md.gov.
A detailed list of the bills tracked by MCEC, with status at the end of session is available in MCEC's 2021 Policy Watch Tracking Sheet Final Summary.
PASSED LEGISLATION
Synopsis: Altering eligibility for the Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit Program by altering the definition of "qualified Maryland biotechnology company"; stating the purpose of the program; altering the calculation of the tax credit under the program; altering the maximum percentage of the Maryland Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit Reserve Fund that a single qualified Maryland biotechnology company may receive in a fiscal year; applying the Act to initial credit certificates issued after June 30, 2021; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0019
Synopsis: Requiring the Public Service Commission, by January 1, 2022, to establish an administrative process to approve supply offers for electricity or gas for households in the State that receive energy assistance through a program administered by the Office of Home Energy Programs; prohibiting, beginning on July 1, 2022, approved supply offers from offering to provide electricity or gas, renewing a certain contract, or charging a certain fee to households in the State that receive certain energy assistance; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Altering the definition of "qualifying biomass" for purposes of excluding energy derived from certain material from being eligible for meeting certain Tier 1 obligations under the renewable energy portfolio standard; providing that existing obligations or contract rights may not be impaired by the Act; and applying the Act to all renewable energy portfolio standard compliance years beginning January 1, 2022, or later.
Dates Introduced: 01-13-2021 (Senate) & 01-29-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to give preference to applications for funding for a net-zero home from the Energy-Efficient Homes Construction Fund that will use the services of small, minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in the clean energy industry, particularly those businesses that provide employment for individuals trained through workforce development programs supported by the Strategic Energy Investment Fund and the Clean Energy Workforce Account.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Authorizing a subscriber to a community solar energy generating system who has a change in the service address associated with the subscription to maintain the subscription under certain circumstances; prohibiting an electric company or a subscription organization from terminating a subscriber's subscription due to a change of a certain address under certain circumstances; requiring an electric company to make certain changes to accommodate a subscriber's change of address under certain circumstances; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021 (Senate) & 01-15-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Requiring the Secretary of the Environment to prepare a certain recommendation in connection with certain issues considered by the Public Service Commission; requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to incorporate an evaluation of the impact of certain electric power plants on climate change into the Power Plant Research Program; requiring the Commission to consider the maintenance of fair and stable labor standards and the protection of the global climate in supervising and regulating certain public service companies; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Requiring certain investor-owned gas, electric, or combination gas and electric companies to require certain contractors and subcontractors to pay their employees not less than the prevailing wage rate for certain projects involving the construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition, restoration, or alteration of any underground gas or electric infrastructure of the company, and any related traffic control activities.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration from purchasing buses for the Administration's State transit bus fleet that are not zero-emission buses; requiring the Administration, on or before January 1, 2022, and each January 1 thereafter, to submit a report to certain committees of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Act; requiring the report to include a schedule for converting to zero-emission buses and a plan for transitioning any adversely affected State employees; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Providing that certain provisions of a recorded covenant or restriction, a declaration, or the bylaws or rules of a condominium or homeowners association are void and unenforceable if they prohibit or unreasonably restrict the installation or use of electric vehicle recharging equipment; requiring certain owners of electric vehicle recharging equipment to be responsible for certain costs and disclosures; requiring a unit owner or lot owner to obtain certain permits or approval; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Altering the Cybersecurity Investment Incentive Tax Credit program administered by the Department of Commerce to be the Innovation Investment Incentive Tax Credit program; expanding the applicability of the tax credit to include investments in certain technology companies; prohibiting the Department from certifying eligibility for tax credits for investments in a single technology sector in excess of a certain amount during any fiscal year; extending the termination date of the program to June 30, 2025; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0160
Synopsis: Expanding the purpose of a certain clean energy loan program to include loans for water efficiency projects, environmental remediation projects intended to remove environmental or health hazards, and resiliency projects to increase the capacity of a property to withstand the effects of climate change; adding water efficiency projects and environmental remediation and resiliency projects to the items requiring eligibility requirements under a certain ordinance; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Authorizing certain gas and electric utilities to adopt a limited-income mechanism to benefit certain eligible limited-income customers, subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission; authorizing various forms that a mechanism may take; requiring a utility company to apply for Commission approval of a mechanism in certain manners; requiring a proposal for a mechanism to allocate certain costs across rate classes; providing for the required contents of a proposal for a mechanism; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-15-2021 (Senate) & 01-20-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Increasing to 3,000 megawatts the statewide limit on rated generating capacity for net energy metering under a certain contract or tariff available to certain eligible customer-generators.
Date Introduced: 01-15-2021 (Senate) & 01-20-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Altering the circumstances under which the Public Service Commission must notify the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of the Environment about an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity associated with power plant construction; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to complete an independent environmental and socioeconomic project assessment report within 6 months after the Commission determines the application to be complete; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021 (Senate) & 01-29-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Altering the due dates of certain annual reports prepared by the Public Service Commission; and altering from December 1 to January 1 the due date of a certain report by the Department of Housing and Community Development relating to the Electric Universal Service Program.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
Synopsis: Altering references to the term "clean energy" to be "advanced clean energy" for purposes of certain provisions of law concerning the Maryland Clean Energy Center and the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute; altering certain findings of the General Assembly, the purposes of certain provisions of law concerning the development of clean energy industries in the State, and the purposes, powers, and duties of the Center and Institute to include certain actions supporting clean energy innovation; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021 (House) & 01-20-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Requiring that any gas service newly installed at an occupied structure may have a gas service regulator installed only outside the structure; requiring an existing interior gas service regulator in a multifamily residential structure to be relocated outside whenever a gas service line or regulator is replaced; requiring a gas company, on or before January 1, 2022, to file a plan with the Public Service Commission to relocate any gas service regulator that provides service to a multifamily residential structure; etc.
Dates Introduced: 01-13-2021 (House) & 01-20-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Increasing the maximum generation capacity of an electric generating system used by an eligible customer-generator for net metering to 5 megawatts; and prohibiting the Public Service Commission from prohibiting the construction or operation of multiple net metered solar generating facilities located on contiguous lots that are owned by a local government solely because the capacity of the combined net metering systems exceeds the 5 megawatt limit.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
Synopsis: Authorizing annual and special meetings of the members of an electric cooperative to be conducted in person, virtually, or both; requiring the notice of annual and special meetings to include certain information; altering certain requirements for a quorum; repealing a requirement that for voting to occur by mail or electronic transmission, the manner must be provided in the cooperative's bylaws; and authorizing voting to be conducted in a certain manner in accordance with the cooperative's bylaws.
Dates Introduced: 01-21-2021 (Senate) & 01-22-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Altering the powers and duties of the State Board of Master Electricians; changing the name of the State Board of Master Electricians to the State Board of Electricians; requiring the Department, by December 1, 2024, to adopt regulations necessary for the regulation and licensing of low-voltage electricians if certain legislation establishing a certain licensing program is not enacted by July 1, 2024; prohibiting, beginning on a certain date, local jurisdictions from issuing certain licenses; etc.
Dates Introduced: 02-05-2021 (House) & 02-08-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Altering the renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years to require a certain percentage of energy from Tier 1 renewable sources each year to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems; requiring that a certain percentage of energy required to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems be from systems installed on certain property; clarifying that energy from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems is eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard; etc.
Dates Introduced: 02-05-2021 (House) & 02-09-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs, in coordination with the United Way of Central Maryland and the Fuel Fund of Maryland, to establish the Power to the People Pilot Program on or before July 1, 2022, to expand access to the Critical Medical Needs Program; requiring the Pilot Program to provide training for certain individuals to serve as navigators under the Critical Medical Needs Program; requiring the United Way of Central Maryland to develop a certain screening intake process; etc.
Dates Introduced: 02-02-2021 (House) & 02-09-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Requiring an electric company to provide to a retail electricity customer on request the historic usage and billing information for not less than the preceding 12 months; and providing that the electric company must make the information available, as requested by the customer, either on the company's website, electronically to the customer in a PDF format, or sent to the customer's billing address.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021 (House) & 02.09.2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs to allow 90 days after applying for assistance for an individual to provide certain medical certification when a critical medically vulnerable individual applies for assistance from the Critical Medical Needs Program if the applicant is at least 60 years old and assisted by a navigator.
Dates Introduced: 02-02-2021 (House) & 02-09-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Establishing the Heat and Eat Program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services; providing that the purpose of the Program is to expand food access to households that are receiving or eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits; requiring the Department to make a certain determination for a household to receive certain benefits; and requiring the Department to adopt certain regulations.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Establishing the position of Climate Counsel in the Office of Climate Counsel; specifying the appointment process, term, qualifications, duties, and salary of the Climate Counsel; establishing the Office of Climate Counsel in the Public Service Commission; authorizing the Office to hire certain experts; requiring the Office to evaluate certain matters to determine if the environmental interests of the State and its residents are affected; authorizing the Office to conduct certain investigations and request certain proceedings; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0030
Synopsis: Extending and altering, for fiscal years 2021 through 2023, the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program and the vehicle excise tax credit for the purchase of certain electric vehicles; increasing from $1,200,000 to $1,800,000 the amount of rebates that the Maryland Energy Administration may issue; increasing, for purposes of a certain vehicle excise tax credit, the limitation on the maximum total purchase price of certain electric vehicles; reducing the vehicle excise tax credit for certain electric drive vehicles; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0044
Synopsis: Expanding the types of energy sources that qualify as Tier 1 renewable sources under the renewable energy portfolio standard; altering the types and uses of methane made from certain sources that qualify as Tier 1 renewable sources; adding certain wastewater used in certain manners to the definition of a "Tier 1 renewable source"; authorizing energy from a wastewater heating or cooling system to be eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard under certain conditions; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
View Status Details: HB0561
Synopsis: Requiring each school district to adopt or update a school district energy policy beginning July 1, 2022; specifying the contents of a school district energy policy; encouraging school districts to set targets to increase the school district's use of renewable energy and reduce the school district's greenhouse gas emissions; requiring that a school district energy policy be posted on the school district's website and updated every 2 years; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-22-2021
View Status Details: HB0630
Synopsis: Requiring a builder of new housing units including single-family detached homes and townhomes or a builder's agent to provide each buyer or prospective buyer with the option to include on or in a garage, carport, or driveway an electric vehicle charging station or a dedicated electric line capable of providing at least level 2 charging; requiring a certain builder or builder's agent to give to certain buyers and prospective buyers notice of certain options and information about certain rebate programs; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021
View Status Details: HB0784
LEGISLATION - WITHDRAWN / FAILED
Synopsis: Establishing a clean energy attribute credit standard for certain purposes; repealing certain provisions relating to the renewable energy portfolio standard; stating certain findings of the General Assembly; stating certain policies of the State regarding certain energy sources and markets; requiring the Public Service Commission to appoint an independent administrator for certain purposes with certain qualifications and certain duties; providing for the term and reappointment of the independent administrator; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Altering the purpose of a certain clean energy loan program established by a county or municipality to include loans to certain residential and commercial property owners to finance grid resilience projects when installed with energy efficiency projects or renewable energy projects; and requiring a certain ordinance or resolution that establishes a certain clean energy loan program to include certain eligibility requirements for certain grid resilience projects.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0054
Synopsis: Requiring the Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to appoint a Chief Resilience Officer to be responsible for coordinating State and local efforts to build resilience to risks identified in the Maryland Hazard Mitigation Plan; providing that the Chief Resilience Officer serves at the pleasure of the Director; establishing the duties of the Chief Resilience Officer, including identifying funding streams and technical assistance and working with leaders of vulnerable industries; requiring a certain annual report; etc.
Dates Introduced: 01-13-2021 (Senate) & 01-15-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Renaming the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to be the Maryland Department of Emergency Management; establishing the Department as a principal department of the Executive Branch of State government; providing that the head of the Department is the Secretary of Emergency Management; requiring the Secretary to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; specifying that the Department is the successor of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0068
Synopsis: Establishing a Climate Crisis Initiative in the Department of the Environment for certain purposes; establishing a greenhouse gas reduction target of 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 and net-zero by 2045; establishing a Climate Crisis Council to develop a plan to reach the reduction targets and submit it to the General Assembly by December 31, 2022; requiring the Council to have the plan verified in a certain manner; requiring a greenhouse gas pollution fee on all fossil fuels brought into the State for combustion in the State; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Requiring the Public Service Commission to set a date by which the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of the Environment must submit certain materials with regard to a certain proceeding for a certificate of public convenience and necessity; requiring the departments to submit the materials before the date set by the Commission unless waived by the Commission; authorizing the office of planning and zoning for certain counties or municipal corporations to submit a certain report to the Commission; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration from purchasing buses for the Administration's State transit bus fleet that are not zero-emission buses; requiring the Administration, on or before January 1, 2022, and each January 1 thereafter, to submit a report to certain committees of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Act; requiring the report to include a schedule for converting to zero-emission buses and a plan for transitioning any adversely affected State employees; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Prohibiting the carbon dioxide emissions rate for certain affected electric generating units from exceeding 180 pounds per million British thermal units; establishing the Fossil Fuel Community Transition Fund to provide grants to certain individuals and communities; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to establish certain policies and procedures for the administration of the Fund; requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to use the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide certain funding; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Altering the purposes for which certain compliance fees paid into the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund may be used; requiring at least 50% of certain energy-related loans and grants made by the Maryland Energy Administration to directly benefit low-income residents of the State; requiring certain vehicle excise tax credits for the purchase of certain electric vehicles to be issued from the Transportation Trust Fund under certain circumstances; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0152
Synopsis: Allowing a credit against the State income tax for certain costs, paid or incurred after July 1, 2021, by an owner of certain residential property for certain energy efficiency upgrades and for which the owner obtains a tax credit certificate from the Maryland Energy Administration; prohibiting a taxpayer from claiming the tax credit in a taxable year in which the Governor declares a certain state of emergency; requiring the Administration to report on the tax credits to the Comptroller on or before January 31 each year; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Prohibiting a person from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle that is not a plug-in electric drive vehicle in a parking space that is designated for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles; requiring that a parking space for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles have certain pavement markings; requiring that a parking space for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles be counted as part of the overall number of parking spaces for certain purposes; establishing a civil penalty of $50 for a violation of the Act; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: SB0315
Synopsis: Extending indefinitely the renewable energy portfolio standard percentage derived from Tier 2 renewable sources; repealing the limit on the period of time during which energy from a Tier 2 renewable source is eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard; applying the Act to all renewable portfolio standard compliance years that begin on or after January 1, 2021; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021 (Senate) & 01-15-2021 (House)
Synopsis: Requiring the State, for certain construction projects and major renovation projects proposed after December 31, 2021, to require that the project be designed, engineered, and constructed in a manner that allows the roof to withstand the weight of solar panels; requiring certain construction projects and major renovation projects to include the installation of the maximum number of solar panels for which the project was designed; requiring the Maryland Green Building Council to provide certain recommendations; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
Synopsis: Requiring the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030; requiring the State to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations establishing certain energy conservation requirements for certain buildings by July 1, 2022; establishing a goal of planting and helping to maintain in the State 5,000,000 sustainable trees of species native to the State by the end of 2030; terminating certain provisions of the Act; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
Synopsis: Repealing certain provisions of law regarding the adoption of regulations establishing certain efficiency standards; repealing certain provisions of law prohibiting the sale or offering for sale of certain products; altering the application of certain testing, certification, and enforcement requirements for certain efficiency standards; requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to review certain efficiency standards on or before January 1, 2022; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
View Status Details: SB0418
Synopsis: Requiring the Department of the Environment to create and maintain a database of supplemental environmental projects from which a person that violates the Environment Article may choose to undertake as part of a settlement or enforcement action; requiring the Department to solicit input from certain communities in creating and maintaining the database; and requiring the Department to ensure that the scope and cost of a chosen supplemental environmental project is commensurate with the scope and cost of a certain violation; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
View Status Details: SB0446
Synopsis: Requiring the Public Service Commission, for the 2021-2023 program cycle, by regulation or order, to the extent that the Commission determines that low-income programs are available, to require the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve a target annual incremental gross energy savings of at least 1% per year starting in 2022; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021 (House) & 01-20-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Prohibiting a public service company from receiving a rate of return on a regulatory asset created as a result of conditions addressed by a certain state of emergency as declared by the Governor.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
View Status Details: SB0506
Synopsis: Establishing the Office on Climate Change in the Office of the Governor to facilitate the implementation of the Commission on Climate Change's recommendations; requiring the Office to ensure that each State agency addresses ways the agency can mitigate the causes of climate change and certain impacts of climate change; requiring the Office to initiate and oversee certain research and investigations; requiring the Office to submit an annual report to the Governor and certain committees of the General Assembly; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-15-2021 (House) & 01-22-2021 (Senate)
Synopsis: Requiring or authorizing, under certain circumstances, the Maryland Stadium Authority to contract for, manage, and oversee certain public school facility projects; authorizing the Prince George's County government and Board of Education to enter into a certain public-private partnership to enhance the delivery of public school construction projects in the county; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-26-2021
View Status Details: SB0576 / HB0740
Synopsis: Requiring certain persons to submit to the Public Service Commission beginning July 1, 2022, monthly reports containing information on the supply of electricity and gas to certain residential customers; requiring certain initial reports to include information from the previous 12 months; providing for the required contents of each report; requiring certain information to be organized by low-income customers and all other customers; requiring the Commission to make each report available to certain persons; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021
View Status Details: SB0595
Synopsis: Establishing certain solar energy property as a subclass of personal property; providing that the county tax rate applicable to certain solar energy property may be a different rate from the county tax rate applicable to other personal property, subject to a certain limitation; exempting personal property that is a certain community solar energy generating system from a county or municipal corporation property tax under certain circumstances; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-02-2021
Synopsis: Subjecting the adoption of a certain fire prevention code to authorizations granted to a county or municipal corporation for the installation of solar energy generating systems of any size on the rooftop of a single-family residential dwelling for which a permit is required; authorizing a county or municipal corporation to require the installation of a certain solar energy generating system to include a certain fire protection pathway, subject to certain exceptions; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-12-2021
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0940
Synopsis: Requiring the Public Service Commission, by regulation or order, to require that a customer's bill for electricity service include the customer's exact meter readings for the close of the last billing cycle and the close of the current billing cycle.
Date Introduced: 03-01-2021
View Status Details: SB0949
Synopsis: Specifying that funds in a certain renewable and clean energy programs account within the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund be used for the Maryland Healthy Soils Program; requiring that $500,000 of the renewable and clean energy programs account be allocated to the Maryland Healthy Soils Program; and terminating the Act after September 30, 2026.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0008
Synopsis: Requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to conduct a comprehensive technical study on geothermal heating and cooling systems; requiring the Administration to submit the results to the Geothermal Energy Workgroup by October 1, 2021; establishing the Workgroup to study the impact of an increase in the use of geothermal energy, examine ways to expand geothermal energy in the State, and study the impact of the industry on jobs; requiring the Administration to develop recommendations for an incentive structure; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0040
Synopsis: Allowing a credit against the State income tax for certain costs, paid or incurred after July 1, 2021, by an owner of certain multifamily housing to meet certain energy and water efficiency standards; requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to issue an initial tax credit certificate on application of the owner under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations; prohibiting the Administration from issuing tax credit certificates totaling more than $1,000,000 in aggregate; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0060
Synopsis: Requiring the Department of the Environment to establish and administer a statewide green business certification program; requiring the green business certification program to recognize businesses operating in a way that reduces their environmental footprint and to provide consumers with information on how to identify those businesses; requiring the Department to update and enhance the statewide green business certification program in consultation with the Montgomery County Green Business Certification Program; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0061
Synopsis: Requiring the Department of General Services to establish and update, every five years, certain standards for State buildings to conserve energy and minimize adverse impacts on birds; requiring the Department to reduce the lighting of existing State buildings in a certain manner; requiring the Maryland Green Building Council to include certain standards in any requirements that the Council establishes for participation in a higher performance building program; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0236
Synopsis: Requiring the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee in consultation with the Departments of the Environment, Agriculture, General Services, and other stakeholders, to develop, by January 1, 2022, a certain methodology for State agencies to estimate greenhouse gas emissions of food and beverages procured, establish a certain baseline measurement by January 1, 2023, and develop certain strategies and policy recommendations; establishing a goal to reduce certain greenhouse gas emissions by State units by 25% by fiscal year 2031; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0317
Synopsis: Altering the eligibility of certain sources of energy for the creation of credits under the renewable energy portfolio standard; removing certain sources from the definition of a "Tier 1 renewable source"; providing that existing obligations or contract rights may not be impaired by the Act; and applying the Act to all renewable energy portfolio standard compliance years beginning after December 31, 2021.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Details: HB0332
Synopsis: Prohibiting a person from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle that is not a plug-in electric drive vehicle in a parking space that is designated for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles; requiring that a parking space that is for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles have green pavement markings; requiring that a parking space that is for the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles be counted as part of the overall number of parking spaces for purposes of complying with certain zoning or parking laws; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-15-2021
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0480
Synopsis: Requiring the State to install a geothermal energy system in certain State buildings constructed by the State if the payback period for the system is less than or equal to 20 years.
Date Introduced: 01-15-2021
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0520
Synopsis: Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, a State unit from entering into a contract to purchase or lease a vehicle for the State vehicle fleet that is not a zero-emission electric vehicle.
Date Introduced: 01-20-2021
View Status Details: HB0592
Synopsis: Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a coal- or gas-fired generating station if any part of the generating station will be located in Prince George's County; and prohibiting a person from operating a coal- or gas-fired generating station if any part of the generating station is located in Prince George's County and the Commission issued a certain certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of the generating station.
Date Introduced: 01-22-2021
View Status Details: HB0613
Synopsis: Requiring an electric company to contract for certain renewable energy credits and electricity generated from certain Tier 1 renewable sources to meet a portion of the renewable energy portfolio standard for the electric company; requiring an electric company to solicit certain bids and award certain contracts in a certain manner; providing for certain remuneration for certain contracts; providing a required minimum of 10 years and maximum term of 20 years for certain contracts; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021
View Status Details: HB0743
Synopsis: Establishing the electric school bus pilot program; requiring the Public Service Commission to implement and administer the pilot program; authorizing certain electric companies to apply to the Commission to implement a pilot program if the pilot program meets certain standards; authorizing certain electric companies to recover certain costs under a pilot program in a certain manner, subject to the approval of the Commission; requiring certain electric companies to submit an annual report to certain entities; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021
View Status Details: HB0832
Synopsis: Increasing, from $2 to $2.50, the maximum monthly surcharge that may be assessed on certain natural gas customers for certain infrastructure replacement projects under certain plans approved by the Public Service Commission under the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Program; providing for the inclusion of certain project costs in certain gas company base rates during a multiyear rate plan; providing for the continuation of a certain surcharge for certain costs not included in base rates; etc.
Date Introduced: 01-29-2021
View Status Details: HB0890
Synopsis: Requiring the Baltimore County Board of Education to retain the services of an independent air quality inspector to conduct any air quality testing the county board chooses to have conducted in a public school in the county; requiring the county board, on receipt of the results of an air quality test, to make the information available to the public on its website and submit the information to the State Department of Education; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-08-2021
View Status Details: HB1141
Synopsis: Requiring the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities to develop certain policies and recommendations to place certain priorities in certain years for directing certain spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs, projects, or investments to benefit certain low-income communities; providing for the application of certain priorities to certain programs, projects, and investments; requiring the Commission to consult with the Department of the Environment and certain other agencies; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-08-2021
View Status Details: HB1310
Synopsis: Requiring the Public Service Commission, by regulation or order, to require that customers are provided access to certain charges for electricity service; requiring the Commission to determine the terms and conditions of transitional electric service and default service; requiring the Commission to administer the transition to default service through a competitive assignment process beginning with electric service rendered on October 1, 2023, and thereafter; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-08-2021
View Status Details: HB1327
Synopsis: Establishing the Blue Ribbon Solar Land Use Commission to study and make recommendations regarding the land use needs to meet the State's solar energy goals in a cost-effective manner under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard; providing for the composition, cochairs, and staffing of the Commission; requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2021; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-19-2021
View Status Details: HB1356
Synopsis: Altering the State's renewable energy portfolio standard to be the clean and renewable energy standard; altering certain legislative findings regarding and purposes of the standard; requiring certain percentages of certain energy in the State to be derived from certain clean energy sources and certain renewable energy sources in certain years; altering certain required percentages of certain energy to satisfy the standard in certain years; establishing certain qualifications for certain clean energy resources; etc.
Date Introduced: 02-25-2021
View Status Details: HB1362
Synopsis: Prohibiting a gas company or an electric company from imposing a certain deposit requirement on customers who are at least 65 years old and have an annual income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level; prohibiting a gas company or an electric company from terminating certain service for failure to pay all or part of a deposit if the customer pays when due all current charges for gas or electricity delivered and consumed; and providing for the application of the Act.
Date Introduced: 03-01-2021
View Status Details: HB1367
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