LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 246 – 1 – Chapter 246 (Senate Bill 215) AN ACT concerning Income Tax – Energy Storage Tax Credit – Alterations and Extension Energy Storage Systems – Income Tax Credit and Grant Program FOR the purpose of increasing the total amount of tax credit certificates that the Maryland Energy Administration may issue in a taxable year for the costs of installing an energy storage system; authorizing, under certain circumstances, a taxpayer to claim a refund of the credit; altering the date by which an energy storage system is required to be installed for purposes of eligibility for the credit; a certain credit against the State income tax for the costs of installing an energy storage system; establishing the Energy Storage System Grant Program in the Maryland Energy Administration to provide grants to certain applicants for the purchase and installation of energy storage systems; terminating the energy storage tax credit; establishing the Energy Storage System Grant Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to the energy storage tax credit and grant program. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article – Tax – General Section 10–719(a) and (b) Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article – Tax – General Section 10–719(d), (f), and (g) 10–719(g) Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) BY adding to Article – State Government Section 9–2010 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume) BY repealing Article – Tax – General Section 10–719 Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) (As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) Ch. 246 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 2 – SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Tax – General 10–719. (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Administration” means the Maryland Energy Administration. (3) “Energy storage system” means a system used to store electrical energy, or mechanical, chemical, or thermal energy that was once electrical energy, for use as electrical energy at a later date or in a process that offsets electricity use at peak times. (4) “Taxpayer” means: (i) the owner of a residential property who purchases and installs an energy storage system on the residential property; (ii) the owner of a commercial property who purchases and installs an energy storage system on the commercial property; or (iii) an individual or a corporation that owns or pays for the installation of an energy storage system that supplies electrical energy intended for use on the residential or commercial property on which the energy storage system is installed. (b) Subject to the limitations of this section, a taxpayer that receives a tax credit certificate may claim a credit against the State income tax for the total installed costs of an energy storage system installed on residential or commercial property during the taxable year. (d) The Administration may not issue an aggregate amount of tax credit certificates exceeding [$750,000] $1,000,000 for a taxable year. (f) (1) (I) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION AND SUBJE CT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE total amount of the credit allowed under this section for any taxable year may not exceed the State income tax for that taxable year, calculated before the application of the credits under this section and §§ 10–701 and 10–701.1 of this subtitle, but after the application of other credits allowable under this subtitle. [(2)] (II) The unused amount of credit for any taxable year may not be carried over to any other taxable year. LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 246 – 3 – (2) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH APPLIE S ONLY TO A TAXPAYER WHO IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO OWNS AND PAYS FOR THE INS TALLATION OF AN ENER GY STORAGE SYSTEM THAT SUPPLIES ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN TENDED FOR USE ON TH E PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF THE TAX PAYER. (II) FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR BEGINNING AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2022, IF THE TAX CREDIT AL LOWED UNDER THIS SEC TION EXCEEDS THE TOT AL TAX OTHERWISE PAYABLE BY THE TAXPAYER FOR THA T TAXABLE YEAR , THE TAXPAYER MAY CLAIM A REFUND I N THE AMOUNT OF THE EXCESS . (g) The credit under this section may not be claimed for an energy storage system installed before January 1, 2018, or after December 31, [2022] 2024. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1, 2022, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – State Government 9–2010. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) “ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ” MEANS: (I) THE OWNER OF A RESID ENTIAL PROPERTY WHO PURCHASES AND INSTALLS AN ENER GY STORAGE SYSTEM ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; (II) THE OWNER OF A COMME RCIAL PROPERTY WHO P URCHASES AND INSTALLS AN ENER GY STORAGE SYSTEM ON THE COMMERCIAL PROPE RTY; OR (III) AN INDIVIDUAL OR A B USINESS ENTITY THAT OWNS OR PAYS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM THAT SU PPLIES ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN TENDED FOR USE ON TH E RESIDENTIAL OR COM MERCIAL PROPERTY ON WHICH TH E ENERGY STORAGE SYS TEM IS INSTALLED . (3) “ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM ” MEANS A SYSTEM USED TO STORE ELECTRICAL ENERGY , OR MECHANICAL , CHEMICAL, OR THERMAL ENERGY TH AT WAS ONCE ELECTRICAL ENER GY, FOR USE AS ELECTRICA L ENERGY AT A LATER DATE OR IN A PROCESS THAT OF FSETS ELECTRICITY US E AT PEAK TIMES. Ch. 246 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 4 – (4) “FUND” MEANS THE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM GRANT FUND. (5) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM. (B) THERE IS AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM IN THE ADMINISTRATION . (C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSI NESS ENTITIES FOR A PORTI ON OF THE COSTS OF PURCHASING AND INSTA LLING ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. (D) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL : (1) ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; (2) ESTABLISH APPLICATIO N PROCEDURES FOR THE PROGRAM; AND (3) AWARD GRANTS UNDER T HE PROGRAM. (E) SUBJECT TO THE AVAILA BILITY OF MONEY IN T HE FUND, AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT MAY APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER TH E PROGRAM FOR COSTS INC URRED TO PURCHASE AND INST ALL AN ENERGY STORAG E SYSTEM. (F) A GRANT AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM MAY NOT EXCEE D THE LESSER OF: (1) (I) FOR AN ENERGY STORAG E SYSTEM INSTALLED O N A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY , $5,000; OR (II) FOR AN ENERGY STORAG E SYSTEM INSTALLED O N A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY , $150,000; OR (2) 30% OF THE TOTAL INSTALL ED COSTS OF THE ENER GY STORAGE SYSTEM. (G) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL A PPROVE ALL APPLICATI ONS THAT QUALIFY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM: (1) ON A FIRST–COME, FIRST–SERVED BASIS; AND (2) IN A TIMELY MANNER . LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 246 – 5 – (H) A GRANT UNDER THIS SEC TION MAY NOT BE AWAR DED FOR AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM INSTA LLED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025. (I) (1) THERE IS AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM GRANT FUND. (2) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. (3) (I) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. (II) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY, AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. (4) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : (I) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; AND (II) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURC E ACCEPTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. (5) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR: (I) PROVIDING GRANTS UND ER THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS; AND (II) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM. (6) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. (II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. (J) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY AD OPT REGULATIONS TO C ARRY OUT THIS SECTION. SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Tax – General [10–719. Ch. 246 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 6 – (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Administration” means the Maryland Energy Administration. (3) “Energy storage system” means a system used to store electrical energy, or mechanical, chemical, or thermal energy that was once electrical energy, for use as electrical energy at a later date or in a process that offsets electricity use at peak times. (4) “Taxpayer” means: (i) the owner of a residential property who purchases and installs an energy storage system on the residential property; (ii) the owner of a commercial property who purchases and installs an energy storage system on the commercial property; or (iii) an individual or a corporation that owns or pays for the installation of an energy storage system that supplies electrical energy intended for use on the residential or commercial property on which the energy storage system is installed. (b) Subject to the limitations of this section, a taxpayer that receives a tax credit certificate may claim a credit against the State income tax for the total installed costs of an energy storage system installed on residential or commercial property during the taxable year. (c) On application by a taxpayer, the Administration shall issue a tax credit certificate that may not exceed the lesser of: (1) (i) for an energy storage system installed on a residential property, $5,000; or (ii) for an energy storage system installed on a commercial property, $150,000; or (2) 30% of the total installed costs of the energy storage system. (d) The Administration may not issue an aggregate amount of tax credit certificates exceeding $750,000 for a taxable year. (e) The Administration shall approve all applications that qualify for a tax credit certificate: (1) on a first–come, first–served basis; and (2) in a timely manner. LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 246 – 7 – (f) (1) The total amount of the credit allowed under this section for any taxable year may not exceed the State income tax for that taxable year, calculated before the application of the credits under this section and §§ 10–701 and 10–701.1 of this subtitle, but after the application of other credits allowable under this subtitle. (2) The unused amount of credit for any taxable year may not be carried over to any other taxable year. (g) The credit under this section may not be claimed for an energy storage system installed before January 1, 2018, or after December 31, 2024. (h) On or before January 31 each taxable year, the Administration shall report to the Comptroller on the tax credit certificates issued under this section during the prior taxable year. (i) The Administration, in consultation with the Comptroller, shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.] SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: (a) Section 1 of this Act shall be applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, but before January 1, 2025. (b) Section 3 of this Act shall be applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take effect July 1, 2024. SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 3 of this Act shall take effect July 1, 2025. SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2022. Approved by the Governor, May 12, 2022.