POLICY WATCH 2021
Subscribe now to receive weekly Policy Watch Report emails during the 2021 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly.
MCEC's Legislative Committee will host a weekly call each Friday, at 9:00 AM to review pending legislation and facilitate a discussion among industry stakeholders.
Please contact Pamela Powers at 301-314-6065 for more information or to participate.
NEW BILLS OF INTEREST
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: 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: 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: 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
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0392
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: 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: 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: 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: 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
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0503
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: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0561
TRACKED 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: 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: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0054
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.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0065
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: 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 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: 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 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: 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: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0152
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0160
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: SB0315
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: 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: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0008
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0030
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0040
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0044
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0061
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
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0101
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 Updates & Hearing Dates: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: 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 Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0332
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.
Date Introduced: 01-13-2021
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0345
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
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0379
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
View Status Updates & Hearing Dates: HB0419