Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB708 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0708
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 708
8	8	M5, M3 2lr1976
9	9
10	10	By: Delegates Barve and Stein
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Economic Matters
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Comprehensive Climate Solutions 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of requiring the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions 3
21	21	through the use of various measures, including the alteration of statewide 4
22	22	greenhouse gas emissions goals, the establishment of a net–zero statewide 5
23	23	greenhouse gas emissions goal, requiring gas companies and electric companies to 6
24	24	provide certain programs and services, and requiring electric companies to increase 7
25	25	their annual incremental gross energy savings through certain programs and 8
26	26	services; requiring landfill operators and the Department of the Environment to take 9
27	27	certain actions regarding methane emissions; requiring the Department of the 10
28	28	Environment to regulate methane emissions from landfills; requiring t he 11
29	29	Commission on Climate Change to establish the Just Transition Employment and 12
30	30	Retraining Working Group to advise the Commission on Climate Change on certain 13
31	31	matters and conduct a certain study; establishing the Maryland Climate Justice 14
32	32	Corps Program; establishing the Climate Transition and Clean Energy Hub in the 15
33	33	Maryland Energy Administration; requiring the Public Service Commission to 16
34	34	establish a certain process for gas companies and electric companies to develop 17
35	35	certain utility transition plans; specifying that certain funding provided under the 18
36	36	Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund may be used for a project that uses 19
37	37	fossil fuel only under certain circumstances; and generally relating to climate change 20
38	38	and measures to combat climate change. 21
39	39
40	40	BY renumbering 22
41	41	Article – Environment 23
42	42	Section 2–1204.2 24
43	43	to be Section 2–1204.3 25
44	44	Annotated Code of Maryland 26
45	45	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 27
46	46
47	47	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 28
48	48	Article – Environment 29 2 HOUSE BILL 708
49	49
50	50
51	51	Section 1–701(a) and (f) 1
52	52	Annotated Code of Maryland 2
53	53	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 3
54	54
55	55	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
56	56	Article – Environment 5
57	57	Section 1–701(h), 2–1201(4), 2–1204.1, 2–1205, 2–1206, 2–1210, 2–1303(a), and 6
58	58	2–1304 7
59	59	Annotated Code of Maryland 8
60	60	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 9
61	61
62	62	BY adding to 10
63	63	Article – Environment 11
64	64	Section 1–702, 2–407, 2–408, 2–1204.2, and 2–1303.1 12
65	65	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
66	66	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 14
67	67
68	68	BY adding to 15
69	69	Article – Natural Resources 16
70	70	Section 8–1927 through 8–1938 to be under the new part “Part III. Maryland Climate 17
71	71	Justice Corps” 18
72	72	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
73	73	(2012 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 20
74	74
75	75	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
76	76	Article – Public Utilities 22
77	77	Section 7–211(d), (f), (g), and (k) 23
78	78	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
79	79	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 25
80	80
81	81	BY adding to 26
82	82	Article – State Government 27
83	83	Section 9–2010 and 9–20B–05(f–5) 28
84	84	Annotated Code of Maryland 29
85	85	(2021 Replacement Volume) 30
86	86
87	87	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 31
88	88	Article – State Government 32
89	89	Section 9–20B–05(a), (b), and (c) 33
90	90	Annotated Code of Maryland 34
91	91	(2021 Replacement Volume) 35
92	92
93	93	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 36
94	94	Article – State Government 37
95	95	Section 9–20B–05(f) 38
96	96	Annotated Code of Maryland 39
97	97	(2021 Replacement Volume) 40 HOUSE BILL 708 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	(As enacted by Chapter 13 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the 2021 Special 1
101	101	Session) 2
102	102
103	103	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
104	104	That Section(s) 2–1204.2 of Article – Environment of the Annotated Code of Maryland be 4
105	105	renumbered to be Section(s) 2–1204.3. 5
106	106
107	107	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 6
108	108	as follows: 7
109	109
110	110	Article – Environment 8
111	111
112	112	2–1204.2. 9
113	113
114	114	THE STATE SHALL ACHIEVE N ET–ZERO STATEWIDE GREEN HOUSE GAS 10
115	115	EMISSIONS BY 2045. 11
116	116
117	117	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 12
118	118	as follows: 13
119	119
120	120	Article – Environment 14
121	121
122	122	1–701. 15
123	123
124	124	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
125	125
126	126	(2) “Business organization” means a corporation, business trust, 17
127	127	partnership, or any other for–profit entity. 18
128	128
129	129	(3) “Commission” means the Commission on Environmental Justice and 19
130	130	Sustainable Communities. 20
131	131
132	132	(4) “Community listening session” means a public convening to gather 21
133	133	information and input from community members. 22
134	134
135	135	(5) “Environmental justice” means equal protection from environmental 23
136	136	and public health hazards for all people regardless of race, income, culture, and social 24
137	137	status. 25
138	138
139	139	(6) “Environmental organization” means a nonprofit entity engaged in 26
140	140	advocacy or action related to conservation, stewardship of natural resources, or pollution 27
141	141	reduction. 28
142	142
143	143	(f) The Department shall provide staff for the Commission. 29
144	144
145	145	(h) The Commission shall: 30
146	146	4 HOUSE BILL 708
147	147
148	148
149	149	(1) Advise State government agencies on environmental justice and related 1
150	150	community issues; 2
151	151
152	152	(2) Use data sets and mapping tools to review and analyze the impact of 3
153	153	current State and local laws, permits, actions, and policies on the issue of environmental 4
154	154	justice and sustainable communities, including cumulative impacts, effects, and exposure; 5
155	155
156	156	(3) Assess the adequacy of State and local government laws to address the 6
157	157	issue of environmental justice and sustainable communities, including assessing 7
158	158	compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; 8
159	159
160	160	(4) Coordinate with the Children’s Environmental Health and Protection 9
161	161	Advisory Council, the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the 10
162	162	Commission on Climate Change on recommendations related to environmental justice and 11
163	163	sustainable communities; [and] 12
164	164
165	165	(5) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 1–702 OF THIS SUBTITLE , COORDINATE 13
166	166	WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON : 14
167	167
168	168	(I) THE RECOMMENDATION OF A METHODOLOGY FOR 15
169	169	IDENTIFYING COMMUNIT IES DISPROPORTIONATE LY AFFECTED BY CLIMA TE 16
170	170	CHANGE; 17
171	171
172	172	(II) THE DEVELOPMENT OF SP ECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO 18
173	173	ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTA L JUSTICE CONCERNS , REDUCE EMISSIONS OF 19
174	174	GREENHOUSE GASES AND CO–POLLUTANTS , AND BUILD CLIMATE EQ UITY AND 20
175	175	RESILIENCE WITHIN DI SPROPORTIONATELY AFF ECTED COMMUNITIES ; AND 21
176	176
177	177	(III) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOALS FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF 22
178	178	STATE FUNDING FOR GRE ENHOUSE GAS EMISSION S REDUCTION MEASURES T HAT 23
179	179	SHOULD BE USED FOR T HE BENEFIT OF DISPRO PORTIONATELY AFFECTE D 24
180	180	COMMUNITIES ; AND 25
181	181
182	182	(6) Recommend options to the Governor and the General Assembly for 26
183	183	addressing issues, concerns, or problems related to environmental justice that surface after 27
184	184	reviewing State laws and policies, including prioritizing areas of the State that need 28
185	185	immediate attention. 29
186	186
187	187	1–702. 30
188	188
189	189	(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE DEPARTMENT, IN 31
190	190	CONSULTATION WITH TH E COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND 32
191	191	SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES , THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE 33
192	192	MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, 34
193	193	SHALL: 35 HOUSE BILL 708 5
194	194
195	195
196	196
197	197	(1) RECOMMEND A METHODOLOGY , BASED ON VARIOUS ECO NOMIC, 1
198	198	SOCIAL, AND HEALTH CONSIDERA TIONS, FOR IDENTIFYING COMM UNITIES 2
199	199	DISPROPORTIONATELY A FFECTED BY CLIMATE C HANGE; 3
200	200
201	201	(2) DEVELOP SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS 4
202	202	ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTIC E CONCERNS, REDUCE EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES 5
203	203	AND CO–POLLUTANTS , AND BUILD CLIMATE EQ UITY AND RESILIENCE WITHIN 6
204	204	COMMUNITIES DISPROPO RTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ; 7
205	205
206	206	(3) SET APPROPRIATE GOALS FOR THE PERCENTAGE O F STATE 8
207	207	FUNDING FOR GREENHOU SE GAS EMISSION S REDUCTION MEASURES T HAT SHOULD 9
208	208	BE USED FOR THE BENE FIT OF DISPROPORTION ATELY AFFECTED COMMU NITIES; 10
209	209	AND 11
210	210
211	211	(4) REPORT TO THE MARYLAND COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE 12
212	212	AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 13
213	213	GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE CRITERIA AND RECOMME NDATIONS DEVELOPED 14
214	214	UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N. 15
215	215
216	216	(B) IN EVALUATING METHODO LOGIES UNDER SUBSECT ION (A)(1) OF THIS 16
217	217	SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER GEOGRAPHIC , PUBLIC HEALTH , 17
218	218	ENVIRONMENTAL HAZA RD, AND SOCIOECONOMIC CR ITERIA, INCLUDING: 18
219	219
220	220	(1) AREAS BURDENED BY CUM ULATIVE ENVIRONMENTA L POLLUTION 19
221	221	AND OTHER HAZARDS TH AT CAN LEAD TO NEGAT IVE PUBLIC HEALTH EF FECTS; 20
222	222
223	223	(2) AREAS WITH HIGH CONCE NTRATIONS OF: 21
224	224
225	225	(I) PEOPLE EXPERIENCING P OVERTY, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT 22
226	226	RATES, HIGH RENT BURDENS , LOW LEVELS OF HOME O WNERSHIP, OR LOW LEVELS 23
227	227	OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAI NMENT; OR 24
228	228
229	229	(II) POPULATIONS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY EXPERIE NCED 25
230	230	DISCRIMINATION ON TH E BASIS OF RACE OR E THNICITY; AND 26
231	231
232	232	(3) AREAS THAT ARE VULNER ABLE TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE 27
233	233	CHANGE, SUCH AS FLOODING , STORM SURGES , AND URBAN HEAT ISLAN D EFFECTS, 28
234	234	DUE TO LOW LEVELS OF TREE COVERAGE , HIGH LEVELS OF IMPER VIOUS SURFACES , 29
235	235	OR OTHER FACTORS . 30
236	236
237	237	(C) IN CARRYING OUT ITS R ESPONSIBILITIES UNDE R THIS SECTION , THE 31
238	238	DEPARTMENT SHALL SOLI CIT INPUT FROM ALL S EGMENTS OF THE POPUL ATION 32
239	239	THAT WILL BE IMPACTE D BY THE POLICIES DE VELOPED UNDER SUBSEC TION (A) OF 33 6 HOUSE BILL 708
240	240
241	241
242	242	THIS SECTION, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL S LIVING IN AREAS TH AT MAY BE IDENTIFIED 1
243	243	AS DISPROPORTIONATEL Y AFFECTED COMMUNITI ES UNDER THE PROPOSE D 2
244	244	CRITERIA. 3
245	245
246	246	2–407. 4
247	247
248	248	(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL 5
249	249	THAT IS REQUIRED TO MONITOR AND REPORT M ETHANE EMISSIONS TO THE 6
250	250	DEPARTMENT . 7
251	251
252	252	(B) IF MET HANE EMISSIONS DATA ACQUIRED FROM AIRCRA FT 8
253	253	OBSERVATIONS , WHERE AVAILABLE , EXCEEDS THE GROUND –LEVEL EMISSIONS 9
254	254	DATA REPORTED BY A M UNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL BY MORE THA N 25%, THE 10
255	255	DEPARTMENT SHALL REQU IRE THE LANDFILL OPE RATOR TO: 11
256	256
257	257	(1) INVESTIGATE THE D IFFERENCE BETWEEN TH E DATA; AND 12
258	258
259	259	(2) REASSESS THE METHODOL OGY AND EQUIPMENT US ED TO OBTAIN 13
260	260	THE GROUND –LEVEL DATA. 14
261	261
262	262	(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBL ICLY DISCLOSE ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S 15
263	263	WEBSITE: 16
264	264
265	265	(1) ALL METHANE EMISSIONS DATA OBTAINED THROUG H AIRCRAFT 17
266	266	OBSERVATIONS; AND 18
267	267
268	268	(2) ANY DISCREPANCIES BET WEEN METHANE EMISSIO NS DATA 19
269	269	OBTAINED THROUGH AIR CRAFT OBSERVATIONS A ND GROUND –LEVEL METHANE 20
270	270	EMISSIONS DATA REPOR TED BY MUNICIPAL SOL ID WASTE LANDFILLS . 21
271	271
272	272	2–408. 22
273	273
274	274	ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL A DOPT 23
275	275	REGULATIONS ESTABLIS HING SURFACE METHANE EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR 24
276	276	MUNICIPAL SOLID WAST E LANDFILLS. 25
277	277
278	278	2–1201. 26
279	279
280	280	The General Assembly finds that: 27
281	281
282	282	(4) The State has the ingenuity to reduce the threat of global warming and 28
283	283	make greenhouse gas reductions a part of the State’s future by achieving a 25% reduction 29
284	284	in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 2020 and by preparing a plan to meet a 30
285	285	longer–term goal of [reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% from 2006 levels by 31 HOUSE BILL 708 7
286	286
287	287
288	288	2050] ACHIEVING NET –ZERO STATEWIDE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2045 in a 1
289	289	manner that promotes new “green” jobs, and protects existing jobs and the State’s economic 2
290	290	well–being; 3
291	291
292	292	2–1204.1. 4
293	293
294	294	The State shall reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by [40%] 60% from 2006 5
295	295	levels by [2030] 2032. 6
296	296
297	297	2–1205. 7
298	298
299	299	(a) The State shall develop plans, adopt regulations, and implement programs 8
300	300	that reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with this subtitle. 9
301	301
302	302	(b) On or before [December 31, 2018] JUNE 30, 2023, the Department shall: 10
303	303
304	304	(1) Submit a proposed plan that reduces statewide greenhouse gas 11
305	305	emissions by [40%] 60% from 2006 levels by [2030] 2032 to the Governor and General 12
306	306	Assembly; 13
307	307
308	308	(2) Make the proposed plan available to the public; and 14
309	309
310	310	(3) Convene a series of public workshops to provide interested parties with 15
311	311	an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan. 16
312	312
313	313	(c) (1) The Department shall, on or before December 31, 2012, adopt a final 17
314	314	plan that reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 2006 levels by 2020. 18
315	315
316	316	(2) The Department shall, on or before December 31, [2019] 2023, adopt a 19
317	317	final plan that [reduces]: 20
318	318
319	319	(I) REDUCES statewide greenhouse gas emissions by [40%] 60% 21
320	320	from 2006 levels by [2030] 2032; AND 22
321	321
322	322	(II) SETS THE STATE ON A PATH TOWAR D ACHIEVING NET –ZERO 23
323	323	STATEWIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2045. 24
324	324
325	325	(3) [The plans shall be developed in recognition of the finding by the 25
326	326	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that developed countries will need to reduce 26
327	327	greenhouse gas emissions by between 80% and 95% from 1990 levels by 2050 ] THE 27
328	328	DEPARTMENT SHALL : 28
329	329
330	330	(I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2030, ADOPT A FINAL PLAN 29
331	331	THAT ACHIEVES NET–ZERO STATEWIDE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2045; AND 30
332	332	8 HOUSE BILL 708
333	333
334	334
335	335	(II) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2035, REVIEW AND , AS 1
336	336	NECESSARY, REVISE THE FINAL PLA N TO ACHIEVE NET –ZERO STATEWIDE 2
337	337	GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2045. 3
338	338
339	339	(d) The final plans required under subsection (c) of this section shall include: 4
340	340
341	341	(1) Adopted regulations that implement all plan measures for which State 5
342	342	agencies have existing statutory authority; and 6
343	343
344	344	(2) A summary of any new legislative authority needed to fully implement 7
345	345	the plans and a timeline for seeking legislative authority. 8
346	346
347	347	(E) A FINAL PLAN DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION : 9
348	348
349	349	(1) MAY NOT INCLUDE HIGHW AY WIDENING OR ADDIT IONAL ROAD 10
350	350	CONSTRUCTION AS A GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION MEASURE ; 11
351	351
352	352	(2) MAY INCLUDE THE USE O F CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE 12
353	353	TECHNOLOGY AS A GREE NHOUSE GAS EMISSION S REDUCTION MEASURE ON LY IF 13
354	354	THE TECHNOLOGY HAS B EEN SCIENTIFICALLY P ROVEN TO ACHIEVE VER IFIABLE 14
355	355	CARBON REDUCTIONS ; 15
356	356
357	357	(3) SHALL USE THE GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL FO R METHANE 16
358	358	OVER A 20–YEAR TIME HO RIZON, AS ACCEPTED IN THE M OST RECENT ASSESSMEN T 17
359	359	OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, IN ESTIMATING THE 18
360	360	STATE’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMI SSIONS REDUCTIONS ; 19
361	361
362	362	(4) SHALL INCLUDE SPECIFI C ESTIMATES OF THE G REENHOUSE GAS 20
363	363	EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF 21
364	364	MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS ; AND 22
365	365
366	366	(5) SHALL INCLUDE SPECIFI C ESTIMATES OF THE R EDUCTIONS 23
367	367	EXPECTED FROM EACH G REENHOUSE GAS EMISSI ONS REDUCTION MEASUR E 24
368	368	INCLUDED IN THE PLAN . 25
369	369
370	370	[(e)] (F) In developing and adopting a final plan to reduce statewide greenhouse 26
371	371	gas emissions, the Department shall consult with State and local agencies as appropriate. 27
372	372
373	373	[(f)] (G) (1) Unless required by federal law or regulations or existing State 28
374	374	law, regulations adopted by State agencies to implement a final plan may not: 29
375	375
376	376	(i) Require greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the State’s 30
377	377	manufacturing sector; or 31
378	378	HOUSE BILL 708 9
379	379
380	380
381	381	(ii) Cause a significant increase in costs to the State’s manufacturing 1
382	382	sector. 2
383	383
384	384	(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be construed to exempt 3
385	385	greenhouse gas emissions sources in the State’s manufacturing sector from the obligation 4
386	386	to comply with: 5
387	387
388	388	(i) Greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, recordkeeping, and 6
389	389	reporting requirements for which the Department had existing authority under § 2–301(a) 7
390	390	of this title on or before October 1, 2009; or 8
391	391
392	392	(ii) Greenhouse gas emissions reductions required of the 9
393	393	manufacturing sector as a result of the State’s implementation of the Regional Greenhouse 10
394	394	Gas Initiative. 11
395	395
396	396	[(g)] (H) A regulation adopted by a State agency for the purpose of reducing 12
397	397	greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with this section may not be construed to result in 13
398	398	a significant increase in costs to the State’s manufacturing sector unless the source would 14
399	399	not incur the cost increase but for the new regulation. 15
400	400
401	401	2–1206. 16
402	402
403	403	(A) In developing and implementing the plans required by § 2–1205 of this 17
404	404	subtitle, the Department shall: 18
405	405
406	406	(1) Analyze the feasibility of measures to comply with the greenhouse gas 19
407	407	emissions reductions required by this subtitle; 20
408	408
409	409	(2) Consider the impact on rural communities of any transportation related 21
410	410	measures proposed in the plans; 22
411	411
412	412	(3) Provide that a greenhouse gas emissions source that voluntarily 23
413	413	reduces its greenhouse gas emissions before the implementation of this subtitle shall 24
414	414	receive appropriate credit for its early voluntary actions; 25
415	415
416	416	(4) Provide for the use of offset credits generated by alternative compliance 26
417	417	mechanisms executed within the State, including carbon sequestration projects, to achieve 27
418	418	compliance with greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by this subtitle; 28
419	419
420	420	(5) Ensure that the plans do not decrease the likelihood of reliable and 29
421	421	affordable electrical service and statewide fuel supplies; 30
422	422
423	423	(6) Consider whether the measures would result in an increase in 31
424	424	electricity costs to consumers in the State; 32
425	425
426	426	(7) Consider the impact of the plans on the ability of the State to: 33
427	427	10 HOUSE BILL 708
428	428
429	429
430	430	(i) Attract, expand, and retain commercial aviation services; and 1
431	431
432	432	(ii) Conserve, protect, and retain agriculture; [and] 2
433	433
434	434	(8) Ensure that the greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures 3
435	435	implemented in accordance with the plans: 4
436	436
437	437	(i) Are implemented in an efficient and cost–effective manner; 5
438	438
439	439	(ii) Do not disproportionately impact rural or low–income, low– to 6
440	440	moderate–income, or minority communities or any other particular class of electricity 7
441	441	ratepayers; 8
442	442
443	443	(iii) Minimize leakage; 9
444	444
445	445	(iv) Are quantifiable, verifiable, and enforceable; 10
446	446
447	447	(v) Directly cause no loss of existing jobs in the manufacturing 11
448	448	sector; 12
449	449
450	450	(vi) Produce a net economic benefit to the State’s economy and a net 13
451	451	increase in jobs in the State, AS COMPARED WITH A N O–ACTION SCENARIO ; and 14
452	452
453	453	(vii) Encourage new employment opportunities in the State related to 15
454	454	energy conservation, alternative energy supply, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction 16
455	455	technologies, PARTICULARLY IN AREA S OF THE STATE EXPERIENCING LO W RATES OF 17
456	456	EMPLOYMENT OR HIGH C ONCENTRATIONS OF POV ERTY; 18
457	457
458	458	(9) INCORPORATE TOP –DOWN METHANE EMIS SIONS DATA ACQUIRED 19
459	459	THROUGH AIRCRAFT OBS ERVATIONS; AND 20
460	460
461	461	(10) USE THE BEST AVAILABL E SCIENTIFIC INFORMA TION, AS 21
462	462	INCLUDED IN THE MOST RECENT ASSESSMENTS A ND REPORTS OF THE 22
463	463	INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE. 23
464	464
465	465	(B) THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT ANALYSIS UNDER SUBSE CTION (A)(8)(VI) OF 24
466	466	THIS SECTION SHALL I NCLUDE THE SOCIAL CO ST OF GREENHOUSE GASES , USING 25
467	467	EITHER THE RATE ADOP TED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE RAT E ADOPTED BY THE 26
468	468	U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. 27
469	469
470	470	2–1210. 28
471	471
472	472	On review of the study required under § 2–1207 of this subtitle, and the reports 29
473	473	required under § 2–1211 of this subtitle, the General Assembly: 30
474	474	HOUSE BILL 708 11
475	475
476	476
477	477	(1) May act to maintain, revise, or eliminate the [40%] greenhouse gas 1
478	478	emissions [reduction] REDUCTIONS required under [§ 2–1204.1] §§ 2–1204.1 AND 2
479	479	2–1204.2 of this subtitle; and 3
480	480
481	481	(2) Shall consider whether to continue the special manufacturing 4
482	482	provisions in § 2–1205(f)(1) of this subtitle. 5
483	483
484	484	2–1303. 6
485	485
486	486	(a) The Commission shall establish: 7
487	487
488	488	(1) A Scientific and Technical Working Group; 8
489	489
490	490	(2) A Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Working Group; 9
491	491
492	492	(3) An Adaptation and Response Working Group; [and] 10
493	493
494	494	(4) An Education, Communication, and Outreach Working Group; AND 11
495	495
496	496	(5) SUBJECT TO § 2–1303.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A JUST TRANSITION 12
497	497	EMPLOYMENT AND RETRAINING WORKING GROUP. 13
498	498
499	499	2–1303.1. 14
500	500
501	501	(A) IN THIS SECTION, “WORKING GROUP” MEANS THE JUST TRANSITION 15
502	502	EMPLOYMENT AND RETRAINING WORKING GROUP OF THE COMMISSION. 16
503	503
504	504	(B) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTA BLISH A JUST TRANSITION 17
505	505	EMPLOYMENT AND RETRAINING WORKING GROUP. 18
506	506
507	507	(C) THE WORKING GROUP SHALL INCLUDE : 19
508	508
509	509	(1) TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED BY 20
510	510	THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 21
511	511
512	512	(2) TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED BY 22
513	513	THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 23
514	514
515	515	(3) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 24
516	516
517	517	(4) THE SECRETARY OF LABOR, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 25
518	518
519	519	(5) ONE ELECTRICAL WORKER , SELECTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL 26
520	520	BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS; 27
521	521	12 HOUSE BILL 708
522	522
523	523
524	524	(6) ONE CONSTRUCTION LABO RER, SELECTED BY THE BALTIMORE 1
525	525	WASHINGTON LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL; 2
526	526
527	527	(7) TWO REPRESENTATIVES O F THE BUILDING AND C ONSTRUCTION 3
528	528	TRADE INDUSTRY , SELECTED BY THE BALTIMORE–DC METRO BUILDING AND 4
529	529	CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL; 5
530	530
531	531	(8) FOUR LABOR REPRESENTA TIVES, SELECTED BY THE MARYLAND 6
532	532	STATE AFL–CIO; 7
533	533
534	534	(9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENC Y INDUSTRY, 8
535	535	SELECTED BY THE SECRETARY; 9
536	536
537	537	(10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND CHAPTER OF THE 10
538	538	SIERRA CLUB, SELECTED BY THE MARYLAND CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB; 11
539	539
540	540	(11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOLAR ENERGY IND USTRY, 12
541	541	SELECTED BY THE MARYLAND–DC–DELAWARE–VIRGINIA SOLAR ENERGY 13
542	542	INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION; 14
543	543
544	544	(12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WIND ENERGY INDU STRY, 15
545	545	SELECTED BY THE AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION; 16
546	546
547	547	(13) TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF R EGISTERED APPRENTICE SHIP 17
548	548	SPONSORS, ONE SELECTED BY THE MARYLAND CHAPTERS OF THE ASSOCIATED 18
549	549	BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS AND ONE S ELECTED BY THE BALTIMORE–DC 19
550	550	METRO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL; 20
551	551
552	552	(14) ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE, SELECTED BY THE 21
553	553	MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES; 22
554	554
555	555	(15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE WH O IS A VETERAN , SELECTED BY THE 23
556	556	MARYLAND MILITARY COALITION; 24
557	557
558	558	(16) ONE REPRESENTATIVE WH O IS A FORMERLY INCA RCERATED 25
559	559	INDIVIDUAL, SELECTED BY THE LEGAL ACTION CENTER NATIONAL H.I.R.E. 26
560	560	NETWORKS; 27
561	561
562	562	(17) TWO AT–LARGE REPRESENTATIVE S WHO ARE WOMEN IN 28
563	563	AFFECTED INDUSTRIES , SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR; AND 29
564	564
565	565	(18) TWO REPRESENTATIVES S ELECTED BY THE MARYLAND STATE 30
566	566	CHAPTER OF THE NAACP. 31
567	567	HOUSE BILL 708 13
568	568
569	569
570	570	(D) THE SECRETARY SHALL DE SIGNATE THE CHAIR OF THE WORKING 1
571	571	GROUP. 2
572	572
573	573	(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE WORKING GROUP. 3
574	574
575	575	(F) A MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP: 4
576	576
577	577	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 5
578	578	WORKING GROUP; BUT 6
579	579
580	580	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR E XPENSES UNDER THE 7
581	581	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 8
582	582
583	583	(G) THE WORKING GROUP SHALL: 9
584	584
585	585	(1) ADVISE THE COMMISSION ON ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES FO R 10
586	586	WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN T AND TRAINING RELAT ED TO ENERGY EFFICIE NCY 11
587	587	MEASURES, RENEWABLE ENERGY , AND OTHER CLEAN ENER GY TECHNOLOGIES , 12
588	588	WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON TRAINING AND WORK FORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR: 13
589	589
590	590	(I) SEGMENTS OF THE POPUL ATION THAT MAY BE 14
591	591	UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE CLEAN ENERGY WOR KFORCE, SUCH AS VETERANS , 15
592	592	WOMEN, AND FORMERLY INC ARCERATED INDIVIDUAL S; AND 16
593	593
594	594	(II) DISLOCATED WORKERS AF FECTED BY THE DOWNSI ZING OF 17
595	595	FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRI ES; 18
596	596
597	597	(2) IDENTIFY: 19
598	598
599	599	(I) ENERGY–INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES AND RELATED TRADES ; 20
600	600
601	601	(II) SITES OF ELECTRIC GEN ERATING FACILITIES T HAT MAY BE 21
602	602	CLOSED AS A RESULT OF A TRANSITI ON TO RENEWABLE ENER GY SOURCES; 22
603	603
604	604	(III) SECTOR–SPECIFIC IMPACTS OF THE STATE’S GREENHOUSE 23
605	605	GAS EMISSIONS REDUCT ION PLAN ON THE STATE’S CURRENT WORKFORCE ; 24
606	606
607	607	(IV) AVENUES TO MAXIMIZE T HE SKILLS AND EXPERT ISE OF 25
608	608	MARYLAND WORKERS IN T HE NEW ENERGY ECONOM Y; 26
609	609
610	610	(V) CHALLENGES AND OPPORT UNITIES RELATED TO 27
611	611	MINIMIZING ADVERSE E MPLOYMENT AND FINANC IAL IMPACTS ON DISPL ACED 28
612	612	WORKERS AND THEIR CO MMUNITIES THROUGH EN VIRONMENTAL POLICIES 29
613	613	CONDITIONED ON THE F AIR DISTRIBUTION OF COSTS AND BENEFITS ; AND 30 14 HOUSE BILL 708
614	614
615	615
616	616
617	617	(VI) RESOURCES NECESSARY T O PROTECT WORKERS FR OM 1
618	618	ECONOMIC INSECURITY , INCLUDING OPTIONS FO R MAINTAINING OR 2
619	619	SUPPLEMENTING RETIRE MENT AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR DISLOCA TED 3
620	620	WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE DOWNSIZING OF FO SSIL FUEL INDUSTRIES ; 4
621	621
622	622	(3) ADVISE THE COMMISSION ON THE POT ENTIAL IMPACTS OF 5
623	623	CARBON LEAKAGE RISKS ON MARYLAND INDUSTRIES A ND LOCAL HOST 6
624	624	COMMUNITIES , INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF ANY POTENTIAL GRE ENHOUSE GAS 7
625	625	EMISSIONS REDUCTION MEASURES ON THE COMP ETITIVENESS OF MARYLAND 8
626	626	BUSINESSES AND INDUS TRY; AND 9
627	627
628	628	(4) CONDUCT A STUDY OF : 10
629	629
630	630	(I) THE NUMBER OF JOBS CR EATED TO COUNTER CLI MATE 11
631	631	CHANGE, INCLUDING IN THE ENE RGY SECTOR , BUILDING SECTOR , 12
632	632	TRANSPORTATION SECTO R, AND WORKING LANDS SE CTOR; 13
633	633
634	634	(II) THE PROJECTED INVENTO RY OF JOBS NEEDED AN D SKILLS 14
635	635	AND TRAINING REQUIRE D TO MEET FUTURE DEM AND FOR JOBS TO COUN TER 15
636	636	CLIMATE CHANGE ; 16
637	637
638	638	(III) WORKFORCE DISRUPTION DUE TO COMMUNITY CHA NGES 17
639	639	CAUSED BY THE TRANSI TION TO A LOW–CARBON ECONOMY ; AND 18
640	640
641	641	(IV) STRATEGIES FOR TARGETING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN T 19
642	642	AND JOB CREATION IN FENCELINE COMMUNITIE S THAT HAVE HISTORIC ALLY BORNE 20
643	643	THE BRUNT OF HOSTING CARBON POLLUTERS . 21
644	644
645	645	(H) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE WORKING GROUP SHALL 22
646	646	REPORT TO THE COMMISSION AND , IN ACCORDAN CE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 23
647	647	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE FINDI NGS OF THE STUDY 24
648	648	REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (G)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 25
649	649
650	650	2–1304. 26
651	651
652	652	(A) On or before November 15 of each year, the Commission shall report to the 27
653	653	Governor and General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 28
654	654	Article, on the status of the State’s efforts to mitigate the causes of, prepare for, and adapt 29
655	655	to the consequences of climate change, including future plans and recommendations for 30
656	656	legislation, if any, to be considered by the General Assembly. 31
657	657
658	658	(B) THE REPORT DUE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 15, 2023, AND EACH 32
659	659	SUBSEQUENT REPORT SH ALL INCLUDE AN ANALY SIS, PREPARED BY THE 33
660	660	DEPARTMENT , OF: 34 HOUSE BILL 708 15
661	661
662	662
663	663
664	664	(1) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF STATE MONEY SPENT ON MEASURES TO 1
665	665	REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASE S AND, TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, 2
666	666	CO–POLLUTANTS , DURING THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR; AND 3
667	667
668	668	(2) THE PERCENTAGE OF THA T FUNDING THAT BENEF ITED 4
669	669	DISPROPORTIONATELY A FFECTED COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED ACCORDING TO THE 5
670	670	CRITERIA DEVELO PED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 1–702 OF THIS ARTICLE. 6
671	671
672	672	Article – Natural Resources 7
673	673
674	674	8–1925. RESERVED. 8
675	675
676	676	8–1926. RESERVED. 9
677	677
678	678	PART III. MARYLAND CLIMATE JUSTICE CORPS. 10
679	679
680	680	8–1927. 11
681	681
682	682	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
683	683	INDICATED. 13
684	684
685	685	(B) “CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT ” MEANS A PROJECT TO I MPROVE ACCESS TO 14
686	686	CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY SOU RCES IN A COMMUNITY DISPROPORTIONATELY 15
687	687	AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 16
688	688
689	689	(C) “CLIMATE MITIGATION PR OJECT” MEANS A PROJECT TO R EDUCE 17
690	690	EMISSIONS OF GREENHO USE GASES AND CO –POLLUTANTS AND MITIGATE THE 18
691	691	HEALTH IMPACTS OF CL IMATE CHANGE IN A CO MMUNITY DISPROPORTIO NATELY 19
692	692	AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 20
693	693
694	694	(D) “COMMUNITY DISPROPORTI ONATELY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ” 21
695	695	MEANS A COMMUNITY ID ENTIFIED USING THE M ETHODOLOGY RECOMMEND ED BY 22
696	696	THE COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 23
697	697	UNDER § 1–702 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 24
698	698
699	699	(E) “CORPS BOARD” MEANS THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE CORPS 25
700	700	PROGRAM. 26
701	701
702	702	(F) “CORPS PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND CLIMATE JUSTICE CORPS 27
703	703	PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 8–1928 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 28
704	704
705	705	(G) “QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIO N” MEANS: 29
706	706	16 HOUSE BILL 708
707	707
708	708
709	709	(1) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; 1
710	710
711	711	(2) A SCHOOL; 2
712	712
713	713	(3) A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIO N; 3
714	714
715	715	(4) A SERVICE, YOUTH, OR CIVIC GROUP ; 4
716	716
717	717	(5) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION ; 5
718	718
719	719	(6) A COUNTY OR M UNICIPALITY; OR 6
720	720
721	721	(7) A UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT . 7
722	722
723	723	(H) “TRUST” MEANS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST. 8
724	724
725	725	8–1928. 9
726	726
727	727	(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND CLIMATE JUSTICE CORPS PROGRAM 10
728	728	ADMINISTERED BY THE TRUST, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CORPS BOARD. 11
729	729
730	730	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE CORPS PROGRAM IS TO: 12
731	731
732	732	(1) PROMOTE CLIMATE JUSTI CE AND ASSIST THE STATE IN 13
733	733	ACHIEVING ITS GREENH OUSE GAS EMISSIONS R EDUCTION TARGETS ; 14
734	734
735	735	(2) PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES T O BECOME 15
736	736	BETTER CITIZENS , STUDENTS, AND WORKERS THROUGH MEANINGFUL SERVICE TO 16
737	737	THEIR COMMUNITIES AN D THE STATE; 17
738	738
739	739	(3) MOBILIZE, EDUCATE, AND TRAIN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO 18
740	740	DEPLOY CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND MITIG ATE AND PREVENT THE 19
741	741	ENVIRONMENTAL AND HE ALTH IMPACTS OF CLIM ATE CHANGE IN COMMUN ITIES 20
742	742	DISPROPORTIONATELY A FFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ; AND 21
743	743
744	744	(4) PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, 22
745	745	ESPECIALLY DISADVANT AGED YOUTH, TO BE TRAINED FOR CA REERS THAT WILL BE 23
746	746	PART OF THE EMERGING FIELD OF “GREEN–COLLAR” JOBS. 24
747	747
748	748	8–1929. 25
749	749
750	750	(A) (1) THE PURPOSE OF THE CORPS BOARD IS TO ADVISE THE TRUST IN 26
751	751	THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E CORPS PROGRAM. 27 HOUSE BILL 708 17
752	752
753	753
754	754
755	755	(2) THE CORPS BOARD CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING 11 MEMBERS: 1
756	756
757	757	(I) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED 2
758	758	BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 3
759	759
760	760	(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED 4
761	761	BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 5
762	762
763	763	(III) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF MORGAN 6
764	764	STATE UNIVERSITY, TO SERVE AS A LIAISO N BETWEEN THE CORPS BOARD, THE 7
765	765	PRESIDENT, AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS; 8
766	766
767	767	(IV) THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 9
768	768	CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST, APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD; AND 10
769	769
770	770	(V) FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTE D BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE 11
771	771	ADVICE AND CONSENT O F THE SENATE, INCLUDING AT LEAST O NE INDIVIDUAL 12
772	772	FROM THE NONPROFIT S ECTOR WITH A BACKGRO UND IN EDUCATION AND STUDEN T 13
773	773	SERVICE AND ONE WITH A BACKGROUND IN WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT . 14
774	774
775	775	(3) IF A REGULATED LOBBYI ST IS APPOINTED TO S ERVE AS A MEMBER 15
776	776	OF THE CORPS BOARD, THE LOBBYIST IS NOT SUBJECT TO: 16
777	777
778	778	(I) § 5–504(D) OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE; OR 17
779	779
780	780	(II) § 5–704(F)(3) OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE AS A 18
781	781	RESULT OF THAT SERVI CE. 19
782	782
783	783	(B) A MEMBER OF THE CORPS BOARD SHALL RESIDE IN THE STATE. 20
784	784
785	785	(C) IN MAKING APPOINTMENT S TO THE CORPS BOARD, THE GOVERNOR 21
786	786	SHALL CONSIDER : 22
787	787
788	788	(1) DIVERSITY; AND 23
789	789
790	790	(2) ALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION S OF THE STATE. 24
791	791
792	792	(D) A MEMBER OF THE CORPS BOARD: 25
793	793
794	794	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPS 26
795	795	BOARD; BUT 27
796	796	18 HOUSE BILL 708
797	797
798	798
799	799	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 1
800	800	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 2
801	801
802	802	(E) (1) THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 4 YEARS. 3
803	803
804	804	(2) THE TERMS OF THE MEMB ERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY 4
805	805	THE TERMS PROVIDED F OR MEMBERS ON JULY 1, 2022. 5
806	806
807	807	(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE UNTIL 6
808	808	A SUCCESSOR IS APPOI NTED AND QUALIFIES. 7
809	809
810	810	(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN SERVES 8
811	811	ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINT ED AND 9
812	812	QUALIFIES. 10
813	813
814	814	(F) THE APPOINTING AUTHOR ITY MAY REMOVE A MEM BER FOR 11
815	815	INCOMPETENCE , MISCONDUCT , OR FAILURE TO PER FORM THE DUTIES OF T HE 12
816	816	POSITION. 13
817	817
818	818	(G) (1) THE CORPS BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE TIMES AND PLACES 14
819	819	OF ITS MEETINGS. 15
820	820
821	821	(2) THE CORPS BOARD MAY ACT WITH AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF SIX 16
822	822	MEMBERS. 17
823	823
824	824	8–1930. 18
825	825
826	826	(A) FROM AMONG ITS MEMBER S, THE CORPS BOARD SHALL ELECT A C HAIR 19
827	827	AND A VICE CHAIR. 20
828	828
829	829	(B) THE TRUST SHALL PROVIDE S TAFF SUPPORT FOR THE CORPS BOARD. 21
830	830
831	831	8–1931. 22
832	832
833	833	(A) (1) THE TRUST, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CORPS BOARD, SHALL 23
834	834	MAKE GRANTS TO QUALI FIED ORGANIZATIONS F OR THE CREATION OR E XPANSION 24
835	835	OF FULL– AND PART–TIME MARYLAND CLIMATE JUSTICE CORPS PROGRAMS, THAT 25
836	836	INVOLVE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH OUT THE STATE, TO CARRY OUT 26
837	837	THIS PART. 27
838	838
839	839	(2) CORPS PROGRAMS SHALL ENGAGE AND DEVELOP S TIPEND 28
840	840	VOLUNTEERS IN CLIMAT E JUSTICE PROJECTS A ND CLEAN ENERGY PROJ ECTS IN 29
841	841	COMMUNITIE S DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 30 HOUSE BILL 708 19
842	842
843	843
844	844
845	845	(3) ELIGIBLE CORPS PROGRAM EXPENSES INCL UDE PERSONNEL 1
846	846	COSTS, STIPENDS, SUPPLIES, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR PROJECTS UNDERTA KEN 2
847	847	BY CORPS PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS . 3
848	848
849	849	(B) THE TRUST, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CORPS BOARD, SHALL 4
850	850	DEVELOP GUIDELINES F OR EVALUATING APPLIC ATIONS FROM QUALIFIE D 5
851	851	ORGANIZATIONS . 6
852	852
853	853	(C) THE GUIDELINES DEVELO PED IN ACCORDANCE WI TH SUBSECTION (B) 7
854	854	OF THIS SECTION SHAL L: 8
855	855
856	856	(1) CONSIDER THE CAPABILI TY OF THE QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION 9
857	857	TO CARRY OUT CORPS PROGRAMS OR PROJEC TS; 10
858	858
859	859	(2) ENCOURAGE AND CONSIDE R MULTIYEAR , MULTIPARTNER 11
860	860	PROPOSALS, LOCAL MATCH , COST–SHARING AGREEMENTS , AND IN–KIND MATCH AS 12
861	861	FACTORS IN EVALUATIN G CORPS PROGRAM GRANT APPLICA TIONS; AND 13
862	862
863	863	(3) REQUIRE GRANT APPLICA TIONS TO DESCRIBE HO W THE 14
864	864	QUALIFYING ORGANIZAT ION INTENDS TO: 15
865	865
866	866	(I) ASSESS THE SKILLS OF CORPS PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS ; 16
867	867
868	868	(II) PROVIDE LIFE SKILLS A ND WORK SKILLS TRAIN ING; 17
869	869
870	870	(III) PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION, IN ADDITION TO THE 18
871	871	TRAINING PROVIDED AS A PART OF THE MAIN CORPS PROGRAM; 19
872	872
873	873	(IV) DEVELOP, WHERE RELEVANT , AGREEMENTS FOR 20
874	874	ACADEMIC STUDY WITH : 21
875	875
876	876	1. LOCAL EDUCATION AGENC IES; 22
877	877
878	878	2. COMMUNITY COLLEGES ; 23
879	879
880	880	3. 4–YEAR COLLEGES ; 24
881	881
882	882	4. AREA CHARTER HIGH SCH OOLS AND 25
883	883	VOCATIONAL–TECHNICAL SCHOOLS ; AND 26
884	884
885	885	5. COMMUNITY–BASED ORGANIZATIONS ; 27
886	886	20 HOUSE BILL 708
887	887
888	888
889	889	(V) PROVIDE CAREER AND ED UCATIONAL GUIDANCE ; 1
890	890
891	891	(VI) RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS WITHOUT HIGH SCHOOL 2
892	892	DIPLOMAS; AND 3
893	893
894	894	(VII) RECRUIT RETIRED AND S EMIRETIRED SENIORS A ND OTHER 4
895	895	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL S WITH RELEVANT EXPE RIENCE TO TRAIN CORPS PROGRAM 5
896	896	VOLUNTEERS AND PARTI CIPATE IN CORPS PROJECTS BY VOL UNTEERING THEIR 6
897	897	EXPERIENCE AND SKILL S. 7
898	898
899	899	(D) A GRANT AGREEMENT REGA RDING FUNDS FROM THE TRUST SHALL: 8
900	900
901	901	(1) SPECIFY THE ALLOWED U SE OF THE FUNDS PROV IDED UNDER 9
902	902	THE GRANT , INCLUDING ACCO UNTABILITY MEASURES AND PERFORMANCE 10
903	903	REQUIREMENTS ; 11
904	904
905	905	(2) TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED FOR EFFICIENT M ULTIYEAR 12
906	906	FUNDING AND ADMINIST RATION OF THE FUNDS ; AND 13
907	907
908	908	(3) INCLUDE PROVISIONS FO R VERIFICATION THAT CORPS 14
909	909	PROGRAMS AND PROJECT S ARE BEING IMPLEMEN TED AS PLANNED. 15
910	910
911	911	8–1932. 16
912	912
913	913	(A) FOR STIPEND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, THE TRUST AND QUALIFIED 17
914	914	ORGANIZATIONS SHALL PRINCIPALLY RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS FOR A MI NIMUM 18
915	915	6–MONTH COMMITMENT WHO , AT THE TIME OF ENROL LMENT, ARE AT LEAST 18 19
916	916	YEARS OLD AND UNDER THE AGE OF 25 YEARS. 20
917	917
918	918	(B) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIO NS MAY NOT UNDERTAKE A PROJECT IF THE 21
919	919	PROJECT WOULD REPLAC E REGULAR WORKERS OR DUPLICATE OR REPLACE AN 22
920	920	EXISTING SERVICE IN THE SAME LOCALITY . 23
921	921
922	922	(C) A STIPEND VOLUNTEER : 24
923	923
924	924	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE A SAL ARY AS A STIPEND VOL UNTEER; BUT 25
925	925
926	926	(2) MAY RECEIVE A STIPEND , AS DETERMINED BY THE TRUST, BASED 26
927	927	ON THE NEEDS OF THE STIPEND VOLUNTEER AN D THE LIMITS OF BUDG ETARY 27
928	928	APPROPRIATIONS . 28
929	929	HOUSE BILL 708 21
930	930
931	931
932	932	(D) (1) A STIPEND VOLUNTEER MA Y NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PARTISAN 1
933	933	POLITICAL ACTIVITY W HILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AS A 2
934	934	STIPEND VOLUNTEER . 3
935	935
936	936	(2) THIS PART IS EFFECTIV E ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DOES NOT 4
937	937	CONFLICT WITH ANY FE DERAL OR STATE LAWS OR REGULAT IONS RELATING TO 5
938	938	PARTICIPATION IN PAR TISAN POLITICAL ACTI VITIES. 6
939	939
940	940	(3) A STIPEND VOLUNTEER MA Y NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY 7
941	941	REGULATORY OR STATUT ORY ENFORCEMENT ACTI VITIES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE 8
942	942	PERFORMANCE OF DUTIE S AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPS PROGRAM. 9
943	943
944	944	8–1933. 10
945	945
946	946	(A) THE TRUST SHALL PROVIDE T ECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO QUALIFIED 11
947	947	ORGANIZATIONS THAT R EQUEST ASSISTANCE . 12
948	948
949	949	(B) THE TRUST SHALL CONVENE MARYLAND CLIMATE JUSTICE CORPS 13
950	950	PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ON A REGULAR BASIS I N ORDER TO: 14
951	951
952	952	(1) PROMOTE TEAM BUILDING AMONG THE PARTICIPAN TS; 15
953	953
954	954	(2) DEVELOP AN UNDERSTAND ING OF THE OVERALL CORPS 16
955	955	PROGRAM PURPOSE ; 17
956	956
957	957	(3) SHARE INFORMA TION ABOUT BEST PRAC TICES; 18
958	958
959	959	(4) RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE ; AND 19
960	960
961	961	(5) PROVIDE TRAINING AND OTHER LEARNING OPPOR TUNITIES. 20
962	962
963	963	(C) IN PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSIST ANCE, THE TRUST MAY 21
964	964	CONTRACT WITH AN ORG ANIZATION WITH A PRO VEN TRACK RECORD OF 22
965	965	DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING CORPS PROGRAMS , WORKING WITH THE 23
966	966	CONSERVATION CORPS MODEL , AND ENGAGING YOUNG P EOPLE FROM 24
967	967	DISADVANTAGED BACKGR OUNDS. 25
968	968
969	969	8–1934. 26
970	970
971	971	(A) THE CORPS PROGRAM’S PROJECTS AND ACTIV ITIES SHALL MEET AN 27
972	972	IDENTIFIABLE PUBLIC NEED WITHIN A COMMUN ITY DISPROPORTIONATE LY 28
973	973	AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, WITH SPECIFIC EMPHAS IS ON PROJECTS THAT 29 22 HOUSE BILL 708
974	974
975	975
976	976	RESULT IN LONG –TERM REDUCTIONS TO G REENHOUSE GAS EMISSI ONS AND 1
977	977	IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC H EALTH AND THE ENVIRO NMENT. 2
978	978
979	979	(B) CLIMATE MITIGATION PR OJECTS MAY INCLUDE : 3
980	980
981	981	(1) PROJECTS TO EXPAND UR BAN TREE CANOPY , IMPLEMENT GREEN 4
982	982	ROOFTOPS, AND TAKE OTHER ACTIO NS TO REDUCE URBAN H EAT ISLAND EFFECTS ; 5
983	983	AND 6
984	984
985	985	(2) PROJECTS TO IMPROV E ACCESS TO CLEAN , RELIABLE 7
986	986	TRANSPORTATION , INCLUDING THROUGH TH E EXPANSION OF BIKE TRAILS AND 8
987	987	PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS . 9
988	988
989	989	(C) CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE: 10
990	990
991	991	(1) PROJECTS TO INSTALL R ENEWABLE ENERGY SYST EMS AT 11
992	992	LOW–INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AN D SCHOOLS , LIBRARIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC 12
993	993	BUILDINGS; AND 13
994	994
995	995	(2) PROJECTS TO UNDERTAKE HOLISTIC RETROFITS O F 14
996	996	LOW–INCOME HOUSEHOLDS , INCLUDING WEATHERIZA TION AND HEAT PUMP 15
997	997	INSTALLATION. 16
998	998
999	999	8–1935. 17
1000	1000
1001	1001	THE TRUST AND THE CORPS BOARD SHALL SEEK FEDE RAL FUNDS AND 18
1002	1002	GRANTS AND DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES TO BE MADE TO THE TRUST FOR 19
1003	1003	THE PURPOSE OF LONG –TERM FUNDING OF THE CORPS PROGRAM. 20
1004	1004
1005	1005	8–1936. 21
1006	1006
1007	1007	COLLEGES AND UNIVERSI TIES MAY: 22
1008	1008
1009	1009	(1) CONTRACT WITH THE TRUST TO CARRY OUT CORPS PROGRAM 23
1010	1010	WORK; 24
1011	1011
1012	1012	(2) ASSIGN TO THE TRUST RESOURCES TO AS SIST IN ITS CORPS 25
1013	1013	PROGRAM WORK , DEVELOPMENT , AND ACTIVITIES; AND 26
1014	1014
1015	1015	(3) ASSIGN FACULTY AND ST AFF TO THE TRUST FOR THE PURPOSE 27
1016	1016	OF CARRYING OUT OR A SSISTING WITH CORPS PROGRAMS . 28
1017	1017
1018	1018	8–1937. 29 HOUSE BILL 708 23
1019	1019
1020	1020
1021	1021
1022	1022	(A) IN DEVELOPING ITS PRO GRAMS AND SEEKING FE DERAL AND STATE 1
1023	1023	GRANTS, THE TRUST AND THE CORPS BOARD SHALL: 2
1024	1024
1025	1025	(1) COORDINATE ALL EFFORT S WITH THE MARYLAND 3
1026	1026	CONSERVATION CORPS ESTABLISHED IN TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 2 OF THIS ARTICLE TO 4
1027	1027	ENGAGE YOUNG ADULTS IN CONSERVATION SERV ICE PROJECTS; 5
1028	1028
1029	1029	(2) COORDINATE ALL EFFORT S WITH THE CIVIC JUSTICE CORPS, AN 6
1030	1030	ADJUNCT PROGRAM OF T HE MARYLAND CONSERVATION CORPS, TO ENGAGE YOUTH 7
1031	1031	IN CONSERVATION SERV ICE PROJECTS; AND 8
1032	1032
1033	1033	(3) SEEK ASSISTANCE AND A DVICE FROM RELEVANT PUBLIC AND 9
1034	1034	PRIVATE SOURCES . 10
1035	1035
1036	1036	(B) IN DEVELOPING CLEAN E NERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATIONAL 11
1037	1037	PROGRAMS, THE TRUST AND THE CORPS BOARD SHALL SEEK ASSI STANCE FROM 12
1038	1038	AND COOPERATE WITH T HE MARYLAND CLEAN ENERGY CENTER UNDER TITLE 10, 13
1039	1039	SUBTITLE 8 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE. 14
1040	1040
1041	1041	(C) IN DEVELOPING ITS VOL UNTEER PROGRAMS , THE TRUST AND THE 15
1042	1042	CORPS BOARD SHALL SEEK ASSI STANCE FROM AND COOP ERATE WITH: 16
1043	1043
1044	1044	(1) THE MARYLAND SERVICE CORPS AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE 17
1045	1045	ON SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM UNDER TITLE 9.5, SUBTITLE 2 OF THE STATE 18
1046	1046	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; 19
1047	1047
1048	1048	(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND OTHER AP PROPRIATE 20
1049	1049	UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTIT IES TO DEVELOP 21
1050	1050	OPPORTUNITIES FOR ST UDENT PARTICIPATION IN PRIVATE SECTOR AC TIVITIES, 22
1051	1051	SUCH AS INTERNSHIP A ND EXTERNSHIP PROGRA MS; AND 23
1052	1052
1053	1053	(3) MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF 24
1054	1054	HIGHER EDUC ATION IN THE STATE, TO DEVELOP OPPORTUNI TIES FOR COURSE 25
1055	1055	CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH WHICH STUDEN TS MAY EARN COURSE C REDITS 26
1056	1056	FOR PARTICIPATION IN CORPS PROGRAMS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OR IN ADDITION 27
1057	1057	TO PAYMENT OF A STIP END. 28
1058	1058
1059	1059	8–1938. 29
1060	1060
1061	1061	(A) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE TRUST, IN CONSULTATION 30
1062	1062	WITH THE CORPS BOARD SHALL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE 31
1063	1063	WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 32 24 HOUSE BILL 708
1064	1064
1065	1065
1066	1066
1067	1067	(B) THE REPORT SHALL INCL UDE A COMPLETE OPERA TING AND FINANCIAL 1
1068	1068	STATEMENT CO VERING THE OPERATION S OF THE CORPS BOARD AND A SUMMARY 2
1069	1069	OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CORPS BOARD DURING THE PREC EDING FISCAL YEAR . 3
1070	1070
1071	1071	Article – Public Utilities 4
1072	1072
1073	1073	7–211. 5
1074	1074
1075	1075	(d) (1) Subject TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND SUBJECT to 6
1076	1076	review and approval by the Commission, each gas company and electric company shall 7
1077	1077	develop and implement programs and services to encourage and promote the efficient use 8
1078	1078	and conservation of energy by consumers, gas companies, and electric companies. 9
1079	1079
1080	1080	(2) BEGINNING WITH THE CA LENDAR YEAR 2024, THE PROGRAMS 10
1081	1081	AND SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N SHALL: 11
1082	1082
1083	1083	(I) ENCOURAGE AND PROMOT E THE REPLACEMENT OR 12
1084	1084	ENHANCEMENT OF GAS , OIL, OR PROPANE HEATING S YSTEMS WITH ELECTRIC HEAT 13
1085	1085	PUMPS, GIVING PRIORITY TO L OW–INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AN D CONSUMERS ; AND 14
1086	1086
1087	1087	(II) ENCOURAGE AND PROMOT E BENEFICIAL ELECTRI FICATION 15
1088	1088	FOR THE PURPOSES OF REDUCING ENERGY CONS UMPTION, REDUCING CONSUMER 16
1089	1089	COSTS, AND REDUCING GREENHO USE GAS EMISSIONS . 17
1090	1090
1091	1091	(3) BEGINNING WITH THE CA LENDAR YEAR 2024, THE PROGRAMS 18
1092	1092	AND SERVICES PROVIDE D UNDER THIS SUBSECT ION MAY NOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL 19
1093	1093	ASSISTANCE FOR EQUIPMENT OR APPLIANCES THAT USE FOSSIL FUEL . 20
1094	1094
1095	1095	(f) (1) The Commission shall: 21
1096	1096
1097	1097	[(1)] (I) require each gas company and electric company to establish any 22
1098	1098	program or service that the Commission deems appropriate and cost effective to encourage 23
1099	1099	and promote the [efficient use and conservation of energy] ITEMS SPECIFIED IN 24
1100	1100	SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION ; 25
1101	1101
1102	1102	[(2)] (II) adopt rate–making policies that provide cost recovery and, in 26
1103	1103	appropriate circumstances, reasonable financial incentives for gas companies and electric 27
1104	1104	companies to establish programs and services that encourage and promote the [efficient 28
1105	1105	use and conservation of energy] ITEMS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 29
1106	1106	SECTION; and 30
1107	1107	HOUSE BILL 708 25
1108	1108
1109	1109
1110	1110	[(3)] (III) ensure that adoption of electric customer choice under Subtitle 5 1
1111	1111	of this title does not adversely impact the continuation of [cost–effective energy efficiency 2
1112	1112	and conservation] THE programs PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 3
1113	1113
1114	1114	(2) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R A PROGRAM OR SERVI CE PROVIDED 4
1115	1115	UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION IS C OST–EFFECTIVE, THE COMMISSION 5
1116	1116	SHALL CONSIDER THE S OCIAL COST OF GREENH OUSE GASES, USING EITHER THE 6
1117	1117	RATE ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE RA TE 7
1118	1118	ADOPTED BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICHEVER IS 8
1119	1119	GREATER. 9
1120	1120
1121	1121	(g) (1) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, on or before 10
1122	1122	December 31, 2008, by regulation or order, the Commission shall: 11
1123	1123
1124	1124	(i) to the extent that the Commission determines that cost–effective 12
1125	1125	energy efficiency and conservation programs and services are available, for each affected 13
1126	1126	class, require each electric company to procure or provide for its electricity customers 14
1127	1127	cost–effective energy efficiency and conservation programs and services with projected and 15
1128	1128	verifiable electricity savings that are designed to achieve a targeted reduction of at least 16
1129	1129	5% by the end of 2011 and 10% by the end of 2015 of per capita electricity consumed in the 17
1130	1130	electric company’s service territory during 2007; and 18
1131	1131
1132	1132	(ii) require each electric company to implement a cost–effective 19
1133	1133	demand response program in the electric company’s service territory that is designed to 20
1134	1134	achieve a targeted reduction of at least 5% by the end of 2011, 10% by the end of 2013, and 21
1135	1135	15% by the end of 2015, in per capita peak demand of electricity consumed in the electric 22
1136	1136	company’s service territory during 2007. 23
1137	1137
1138	1138	(2) (i) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, for the 24
1139	1139	duration of the [2018–2020 and] 2021–2023 AND 2024–2026 program cycles, by regulation 25
1140	1140	or order, the Commission shall, to the extent that the Commission determines that 26
1141	1141	cost–effective energy efficiency and conservation programs and services are available, for 27
1142	1142	each affected class, require each electric company to procure or provide for its electricity 28
1143	1143	customers cost–effective energy efficiency and conservation programs and services with 29
1144	1144	projected and verifiable electricity savings that are designed on a trajectory to achieve a 30
1145	1145	targeted annual incremental gross energy savings of at least [2.0% per year, calculated as 31
1146	1146	a percentage of the electric company’s 2016 weather–normalized gross retail sales and 32
1147	1147	electricity losses] THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL PERCENTAGES , CALCULATED AS A 33
1148	1148	PERCENTAGE OF THE EL ECTRIC COMPANY ’S 2016 WEATHER–NORMALIZED GROSS 34
1149	1149	RETAIL SALES AND ELE CTRICITY LOSSES : 35
1150	1150
1151	1151	1. 2.25% PER YEAR IN 2025 AND 2026; 36
1152	1152
1153	1153	2. 2.5% IN 2027; AND 37
1154	1154	26 HOUSE BILL 708
1155	1155
1156	1156
1157	1157	3. 2.75% PER YEAR IN 2028 AND THEREAFTER . 1
1158	1158
1159	1159	(ii) The savings trajectory shall use the approved 2016 plans 2
1160	1160	submitted under subsection (h)(2) of this section as a baseline for an incremental increase 3
1161	1161	of a rate of .20% per year until the minimum [2.0% per year] savings rate SPECIFIED IN 4
1162	1162	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH is achieved. 5
1163	1163
1164	1164	(iii) The gross retail sales against which the savings are measured 6
1165	1165	shall: 7
1166	1166
1167	1167	1. reflect sales associated with customer classes served by 8
1168	1168	utility–administered programs only; and 9
1169	1169
1170	1170	2. be updated by the Commission for each plan submitted 10
1171	1171	under subsection (h)(2) of this section. 11
1172	1172
1173	1173	(iv) The targeted annual incremental gross energy savings shall be 12
1174	1174	achieved based on the 3–year average of an electric company’s plan submitted under 13
1175	1175	subsection (h)(2) of this section. 14
1176	1176
1177	1177	(k) On or before May 1 of each year, the Commission, in consultation with the 15
1178	1178	Maryland Energy Administration, shall report, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government 16
1179	1179	Article, to the General Assembly on: 17
1180	1180
1181	1181	(1) the status of programs and services to encourage and promote the 18
1182	1182	[efficient use and conservation of energy] ITEMS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 19
1183	1183	SECTION, including an evaluation of the impact of the programs and services that are 20
1184	1184	directed to low–income communities, low– to moderate–income communities to the extent 21
1185	1185	possible, and other particular classes of ratepayers; 22
1186	1186
1187	1187	(2) a recommendation for the appropriate funding level to adequately fund 23
1188	1188	these programs and services; and 24
1189	1189
1190	1190	(3) in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the per capita 25
1191	1191	electricity consumption and the peak demand for the previous calendar year. 26
1192	1192
1193	1193	Article – State Government 27
1194	1194
1195	1195	9–2010. 28
1196	1196
1197	1197	(A) IN THIS SECTION, “HUB” MEANS THE CLIMATE TRANSITION AND CLEAN 29
1198	1198	ENERGY HUB. 30
1199	1199
1200	1200	(B) THERE IS A CLIMATE TRANSITION AND CLEAN ENERGY HUB IN THE 31
1201	1201	ADMINISTRAT ION. 32
1202	1202	HOUSE BILL 708 27
1203	1203
1204	1204
1205	1205	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE HUB IS TO SERVE AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR 1
1206	1206	INFORMATION ON ADVAN CED TECHNOLOGY AND A RCHITECTURAL SOLUTIO NS TO 2
1207	1207	REDUCE GREENHOUSE GA S EMISSIONS FROM THE BUILDING SECTOR . 3
1208	1208
1209	1209	(D) THE HUB SHALL PROVIDE TEC HNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PUBLIC AND 4
1210	1210	PRIVATE ENTITIES TO ACHIEVE GREENHOUSE G AS EMISSIONS REDUCTI ONS AND 5
1211	1211	COMPLY WITH STATE AND LOCAL ENERG Y EFFICIENCY AND ELE CTRIFICATION 6
1212	1212	REQUIREMENTS . 7
1213	1213
1214	1214	9–20B–05. 8
1215	1215
1216	1216	(a) There is a Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. 9
1217	1217
1218	1218	(b) The purpose of the Fund is to implement the Strategic Energy Investment 10
1219	1219	Program. 11
1220	1220
1221	1221	(c) The Administration shall administer the Fund. 12
1222	1222
1223	1223	(f) [The] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (F–5) OF THIS SECTION , THE 13
1224	1224	Administration shall use the Fund: 14
1225	1225
1226	1226	(1) to invest in the promotion, development, and implementation of: 15
1227	1227
1228	1228	(i) cost–effective energy efficiency and conservation programs, 16
1229	1229	projects, or activities, including measurement and verification of energy savings; 17
1230	1230
1231	1231	(ii) renewable and clean energy resources; 18
1232	1232
1233	1233	(iii) climate change programs directly related to reducing or 19
1234	1234	mitigating the effects of climate change; and 20
1235	1235
1236	1236	(iv) demand response programs that are designed to promote 21
1237	1237	changes in electric usage by customers in response to: 22
1238	1238
1239	1239	1. changes in the price of electricity over time; or 23
1240	1240
1241	1241	2. incentives designed to induce lower electricity use at times 24
1242	1242	of high wholesale market prices or when system reliability is jeopardized; 25
1243	1243
1244	1244	(2) to provide targeted programs, projects, activities, and investments to 26
1245	1245	reduce electricity consumption by customers in the low–income and moderate–income 27
1246	1246	residential sectors; 28
1247	1247
1248	1248	(3) to provide supplemental funds for low–income energy assistance 29
1249	1249	through the Electric Universal Service Program established under § 7–512.1 of the Public 30 28 HOUSE BILL 708
1250	1250
1251	1251
1252	1252	Utilities Article and other electric assistance programs in the Department of Human 1
1253	1253	Services; 2
1254	1254
1255	1255	(4) to provide rate relief by offsetting electricity rates of residential 3
1256	1256	customers, including an offset of surcharges imposed on ratepayers under § 7–211 of the 4
1257	1257	Public Utilities Article; 5
1258	1258
1259	1259	(5) to provide grants, loans, and other assistance and investment as 6
1260	1260	necessary and appropriate to implement the purposes of the Program as set forth in § 7
1261	1261	9–20B–03 of this subtitle; 8
1262	1262
1263	1263	(6) to implement energy–related public education and outreach initiatives 9
1264	1264	regarding reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; 10
1265	1265
1266	1266	(7) to provide rebates under the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment 11
1267	1267	Rebate Program established under § 9–2009 of this title; 12
1268	1268
1269	1269	(8) to provide grants to encourage combined heat and power projects at 13
1270	1270	industrial facilities; 14
1271	1271
1272	1272	(9) subject to subsections (f–1) and (f–3) of this section, to provide 15
1273	1273	$7,000,000 in funding for access to capital for small, minority, women–owned, and 16
1274	1274	veteran–owned businesses in the clean energy industry under § 5–1501 of the Economic 17
1275	1275	Development Article, allocated in annual increments as follows: 18
1276	1276
1277	1277	(i) $200,000 in fiscal year 2021; 19
1278	1278
1279	1279	(ii) $500,000 in fiscal year 2022; 20
1280	1280
1281	1281	(iii) $500,000 in fiscal year 2023; 21
1282	1282
1283	1283	(iv) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2024; and 22
1284	1284
1285	1285	(v) $1,200,000 in each fiscal year from 2025 through 2028; 23
1286	1286
1287	1287	(10) subject to subsections (f–2) and (f–3) of this section, to invest in 24
1288	1288	pre–apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship programs to 25
1289	1289	establish career paths in the clean energy industry under § 11–708.1 of the Labor and 26
1290	1290	Employment Article, as follows: 27
1291	1291
1292	1292	(i) $1,250,000 for grants to pre–apprenticeship jobs training 28
1293	1293	programs under § 11–708.1(c)(3) of the Labor and Employment Article starting in fiscal 29
1294	1294	year 2021 until all amounts are spent; 30
1295	1295
1296	1296	(ii) $6,000,000 for grants to youth apprenticeship jobs training 31
1297	1297	programs and registered apprenticeship jobs training programs under § 11–708.1(c)(5) of 32 HOUSE BILL 708 29
1298	1298
1299	1299
1300	1300	the Labor and Employment Article starting in fiscal year 2021 until all amounts are spent; 1
1301	1301	and 2
1302	1302
1303	1303	(iii) $750,000 for the recruitment of individuals, including veterans 3
1304	1304	and formerly incarcerated individuals, to the pre–apprenticeship jobs training programs 4
1305	1305	and the registered apprenticeship jobs training programs under § 11–708.1 of the Labor 5
1306	1306	and Employment Article starting in fiscal year 2021 until all amounts are spent; 6
1307	1307
1308	1308	(11) subject to subsection (f–4) of this section, to provide at least $2,100,000 7
1309	1309	in funding each fiscal year to the Maryland Energy Innovation Fund established under § 8
1310	1310	10–835 of the Economic Development Article; and 9
1311	1311
1312	1312	(12) to pay the expenses of the Program. 10
1313	1313
1314	1314	(F–5) FUNDING PROVIDED UNDE R SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION MAY BE 11
1315	1315	USED FOR A PROJECT THAT USES FOSSIL FUEL ONLY IF IT CAN BE DEMONSTRAT ED 12
1316	1316	THAT THE LIFECYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISS IONS FOR THE PROJECT ARE LESS 13
1317	1317	THAN AN ALL–ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVE . 14
1318	1318
1319	1319	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 15
1320	1320
1321	1321	(a) A Position Identification Number (PIN) shall be created in the Maryland 16
1322	1322	Energy Administration for the Coordinator of the Climate Transition and Clean Energy 17
1323	1323	Hub. 18
1324	1324
1325	1325	(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that, with the exception of the new 19
1326	1326	Coordinator position and associated salary, the Maryland Energy Administration shall 20
1327	1327	handle the responsibilities of the Climate Transition and Clean Energy Hub with existing 21
1328	1328	resources. 22
1329	1329
1330	1330	SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED , That: 23
1331	1331
1332	1332	(a) (1) The Public Service Commission shall establish a process for gas 24
1333	1333	companies and electric companies to develop utility transition plans to achieve a structured 25
1334	1334	and just transition to near–zero greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. 26
1335	1335
1336	1336	(2) The process established under this section shall provide for stakeholder 27
1337	1337	review of utility transition plans. 28
1338	1338
1339	1339	(3) The Commission shall amend or reject a utility plan that does not meet 29
1340	1340	the criteria specified in subsection (b) of this section. 30
1341	1341
1342	1342	(b) (1) The gas utility transition plans developed under this section shall 31
1343	1343	include: 32
1344	1344	30 HOUSE BILL 708
1345	1345
1346	1346
1347	1347	(i) appropriate gas system investments and divestments for a 1
1348	1348	shrinking customer base and reductions in gas throughput in the range of 50 to 100% by 2
1349	1349	2045; 3
1350	1350
1351	1351	(ii) a comprehensive equity strategy to enable low–income and 4
1352	1352	middle–income households to improve energy efficiency and electrification affordably; 5
1353	1353
1354	1354	(iii) regulatory, legislative, and other policy recommendations to 6
1355	1355	achieve a structured and just transition of the gas system and infrastructure; 7
1356	1356
1357	1357	(iv) operational practices to meet current customer needs and 8
1358	1358	maintain safe and reliable service while minimizing infrastructure investments; 9
1359	1359
1360	1360	(v) assessment of existing gas infrastructure and options for 10
1361	1361	contraction; and 11
1362	1362
1363	1363	(vi) alternative models for the gas utility’s long–term role, business 12
1364	1364	model, ownership structure, and regulatory compact, as part of the structured transition. 13
1365	1365
1366	1366	(2) The electric utility transition plans developed under this section shall 14
1367	1367	include: 15
1368	1368
1369	1369	(i) electric system investments for a highly electrified buildings 16
1370	1370	sector; 17
1371	1371
1372	1372	(ii) ratepayer protections, especially for low–income and 18
1373	1373	middle–income residents; 19
1374	1374
1375	1375	(iii) incentives to facilitate the transition to a highly electrified 20
1376	1376	buildings sector; and 21
1377	1377
1378	1378	(iv) demand management solutions for reducing winter peak 22
1379	1379	electricity demand. 23
1380	1380
1381	1381	SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 24
1382	1382	effect June 1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 8 years and 1 month and, at the 25
1383	1383	end of June 30, 2030, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General 26
1384	1384	Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 27
1385	1385
1386	1386	SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 28
1387	1387	6 of this Act, this Act shall take effect June 1, 2022. 29
1388	1388