MD
Maryland House Bill HB1328

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1328 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
55 *hb1328*
66
77 HOUSE BILL 1328
88 C5, M5, P2 4lr2845
99 CF SB 1082
1010 By: Delegates Ziegler and Crosby
1111 Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
1212 Assigned to: Economic Matters and Appropriations
1313
1414 A BILL ENTITLED
1515
1616 AN ACT concerning 1
1717
1818 Solar Energy and Energy Storage – Development and State Procurement 2
1919
2020 FOR the purpose of authorizing a county to enact a local law creating a conservation and 3
2121 restoration fund for a certain purpose; establishing the Utility–Scale Solar Design 4
2222 and Siting Commission in the Power Plant Research Program to provide 5
2323 recommendations related to solar energy development and land conservation and 6
2424 preservation; requiring the owner or operator of a certain solar energy generating 7
2525 station to plant and maintain a certain cover crop on the land on which the station 8
2626 is located and submit a certain vegetation management plan to a certain entity; 9
2727 requiring the Public Service Commission, in consultation with certain other entities, 10
2828 to develop certain model standards for energy storage permitting and fire 11
2929 suppression; requiring the Department of General Services, in consultation with the 12
3030 Public Service Commission, to procure a certain amount of solar energy each year 13
3131 for a certain number of years for a certain purpose; requiring the State to offer for 14
3232 sale certain energy or associated renewable energy credits under certain 15
3333 circumstances; exempting the State from certain renewable energy portfolio 16
3434 standard requirements under certain circumstances; establishing certain labor 17
3535 requirements for certain solar energy developers; requiring the Maryland Energy 18
3636 Administration’s Solar Technical Assistance Program to analyze State–owned land 19
3737 for solar development and create a certain database; requiring each electric company 20
3838 to submit certain information to the Administration for a certain purpose; requiring 21
3939 the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to submit a report on 22
4040 certain property and easements to the Solar Technical Assistance Program and the 23
4141 General Assembly on or before a certain date; stating the intent of the General 24
4242 Assembly that a certain number of positions be created in the Department of Natural 25
4343 Resources for positions that will focus on providing certain support and guidance to 26
4444 local governments; and generally relating to the development of solar energy and 27
4545 energy storage technology in the State. 28
4646
4747 BY adding to 29
4848 Article – Local Government 30 2 HOUSE BILL 1328
4949
5050
5151 Section 12–905 1
5252 Annotated Code of Maryland 2
5353 (2013 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 3
5454
5555 BY adding to 4
5656 Article – Natural Resources 5
5757 Section 3–306.2 6
5858 Annotated Code of Maryland 7
5959 (2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 8
6060
6161 BY adding to 9
6262 Article – Public Utilities 10
6363 Section 7–215.1 and 7–216.2 11
6464 Annotated Code of Maryland 12
6565 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
6666
6767 BY adding to 14
6868 Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
6969 Section 4–325 to be under the new part “Part IV. State Purchase of Solar Energy” 16
7070 Annotated Code of Maryland 17
7171 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
7272
7373 BY adding to 19
7474 Article – State Government 20
7575 Section 9–2016 21
7676 Annotated Code of Maryland 22
7777 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
7878
7979 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
8080 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
8181
8282 Article – Local Government 26
8383
8484 12–905. 27
8585
8686 (A) IN THIS SECTION, “GENERATING STATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED 28
8787 IN § 7–207 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 29
8888
8989 (B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL COUNTIES . 30
9090
9191 (C) A COUNTY MAY ENACT A L OCAL LAW TO: 31
9292
9393 (1) CREATE A CONSERVATIO N AND RESTORATION FU ND; 32
9494
9595 (2) REQUIRE A DEVELOPER OF A SOLAR GENERATIN G STATION TO 33
9696 PAY A REASONABLE AMO UNT INTO A CONSERVAT ION AND RESTORATION FUND IF 34 HOUSE BILL 1328 3
9797
9898
9999 THE SOLAR GENERATING STATION IS ON LAND Z ONED FOR AGRICULTURA L USE OR 1
100100 SILVICULTURAL USE ; AND 2
101101
102102 (3) REQUIRE THAT THE FUN D UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 3
103103 BE USED FOR: 4
104104
105105 (I) CONSERVATION OR REST ORATION OF AGRICULTU RAL, 5
106106 ENVIRONMENTAL , OR HISTORICALL Y SENSITIVE AREAS ; AND 6
107107
108108 (II) INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT . 7
109109
110110 Article – Natural Resources 8
111111
112112 3–306.2. 9
113113
114114 (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 10
115115 INDICATED. 11
116116
117117 (2) “COMMISSION” MEANS THE UTILITY–SCALE SOLAR DESIGN AND 12
118118 SITING ADVISORY COMMISSION. 13
119119
120120 (3) “GENERATING STATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–207 OF 14
121121 THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 15
122122
123123 (B) THERE IS A UTILITY–SCALE SOLAR DESIGN AND SITING ADVISORY 16
124124 COMMISSION IN THE PROGRAM. 17
125125
126126 (C) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS: 18
127127
128128 (1) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A WESTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 19
129129 WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 20
130130 OF COUNTIES; 21
131131
132132 (2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A SOUTHERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 22
133133 WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 23
134134 OF COUNTIES; 24
135135
136136 (3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A CENTRAL COUNTY IN THE STATE 25
137137 WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 26
138138 OF COUNTIES; 27
139139
140140 (4) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN EASTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 28
141141 WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 29
142142 OF COUNTIES; 30 4 HOUSE BILL 1328
143143
144144
145145
146146 (5) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A RURAL MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE 1
147147 WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL 2
148148 LEAGUE; 3
149149
150150 (6) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN URBAN MUNICIPALIT Y IN THE 4
151151 STATE WITH LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL 5
152152 LEAGUE; 6
153153
154154 (7) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; 7
155155
156156 (8) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 8
157157 AGRICULTURE ; 9
158158
159159 (9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 10
160160 PLANNING; 11
161161
162162 (10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 12
163163 ENVIRONMENT ; 13
164164
165165 (11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE MARYLAND ENERGY 14
166166 ADMINISTRATION ; 15
167167
168168 (12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC 16
169169 SERVICE COMMISSION; 17
170170
171171 (13) THREE REPRESENTATIVES O F THE SOLAR DEVELOPM ENT 18
172172 INDUSTRY, APPOINTED BY THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AS FOL LOWS: 19
173173
174174 (I) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF THE COMMUN ITY 20
175175 SOLAR INDUSTRY ; AND 21
176176
177177 (II) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF THE UTILIT Y–SCALE 22
178178 SOLAR INDUS TRY; 23
179179
180180 (14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE DE SIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND FARM 24
181181 BUREAU; 25
182182
183183 (15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL NON PROFIT 26
184184 ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 27
185185 ENVIRONMENT ; 28
186186 HOUSE BILL 1328 5
187187
188188
189189 (16) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUS TICE 1
190190 COMMUNITY , APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ; 2
191191
192192 (17) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A LAND PRESERVATION 3
193193 ORGANIZATION , APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 4
194194
195195 (18) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE. 5
196196
197197 (D) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE, SHALL SERVE AS 6
198198 CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. 7
199199
200200 (E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 8
201201
202202 (F) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2024, THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE 9
203203 TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 10
204204 GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 11
205205
206206 (1) BALANCING COMPETING G OALS RELATED TO SOLA R ENERGY 12
207207 DEVELOPMENT AND LAND CONSERVATION AND PRE SERVATION; 13
208208
209209 (2) THE APPROPRIATE APPRO ACH FOR SOLAR DEVELO PMENT ON 14
210210 PRIME AND PRODUCTIVE SOILS THAT: 15
211211
212212 (I) DOES NOT INCLUDE SPECIFIC S OIL CLASSIFICATION 16
213213 PROHIBITIONS; AND 17
214214
215215 (II) CONSIDERS THE IMPACT ON LOCAL PROGRAMS OF 18
216216 AGRICULTURAL LAND PR ESERVATION APPROVED UNDER § 2–512 OF THE 19
217217 AGRICULTURE ARTICLE; 20
218218
219219 (3) SETBACK RANGES AND SC REENING REQUIREMENTS THAT 21
220220 CONSIDER THE STATE’S GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSI TY, NATIVE VEGETATION , AND 22
221221 STORMWATER MANAGEMEN T; 23
222222
223223 (4) ENCOURAGING THE DEVEL OPMENT OF SOLAR ENER GY 24
224224 GENERATING STATIONS ON BROWNFIELDS , PARKING LOTS, AND OTHER AREAS ; AND 25
225225
226226 (5) PRESERVING FORESTS , SOIL, AND NATURAL RESOURCE S. 26
227227
228228 (G) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE 27
229229 TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 28
230230 GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 29
231231 6 HOUSE BILL 1328
232232
233233
234234 (1) BEST PRACTICES FOR SI TING SOLAR ENERGY GE NERATING 1
235235 STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPA CITY OF 2 MEGAWATTS OR MORE ; 2
236236
237237 (2) ESTABLISHING A MODEL POLICY FOR THE DEVEL OPMENT OF 3
238238 SOLAR ENERGY GENERAT ING STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPACITY OF 2 4
239239 MEGAWATTS OR MORE IN EACH COUNTY TO MEET THE STATE’S SOLAR ENERGY 5
240240 COMMITMENTS UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE; 6
241241
242242 (3) METHODS BY WHICH A LO CAL JURISDICTION MAY PRIORITIZE 7
243243 THE DEVELOPMENT OF S OLAR ENERGY WITH OTH ER LOCAL NEEDS ; AND 8
244244
245245 (4) DECOMMISSIONING STAND ARDS FOR SOLAR ENERG Y 9
246246 GENERATING STATIONS . 10
247247
248248 (H) THE COMMISSION SHALL CONV ENE AT LEAST ONCE EV ERY 10 YEARS TO 11
249249 PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 12
250250 GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 13
251251
252252 (1) BEST PRACTICES FOR SI TING SOLAR ENERGY GE NERATING 14
253253 STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPA CITY OF 2 MEGAWATTS OR MORE ; 15
254254
255255 (2) ADAPTING TO CHANGES I N TECHNOLOGY ; 16
256256
257257 (3) MEETING STATE ENERGY GOALS ; AND 17
258258
259259 (4) ANY OTHER ISSUE THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE . 18
260260
261261 Article – Public Utilities 19
262262
263263 7–215.1. 20
264264
265265 (A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A GROUND –MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY 21
266266 GENERATING STATION L OCATED IN THE STATE THAT: 22
267267
268268 (1) HAS THE CAPACITY TO PRODUCE MORE THAN 2 MEGAWATTS OF 23
269269 ELECTRICITY; AND 24
270270
271271 (2) IS DESIGNED TO PRODU CE ELECTRICITY FOR S ALE ON THE 25
272272 WHOLESALE MARKET . 26
273273
274274 (B) (1) THE OWNER OR O PERATOR OF A GROUND –MOUNTED SOLAR 27
275275 ENERGY GENERATING ST ATION SHALL: 28
276276 HOUSE BILL 1328 7
277277
278278
279279 (I) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 1
280280 EXTENSION, PLANT AND MAINTAIN ON THE LAND ON WHICH THE STATION IS 2
281281 LOCATED A COVER CROP THAT IS BENEFICIAL T O SOIL HEALTH AND RE GENERATION 3
282282 AND PROVIDES CARBON SEQUESTRATION ; AND 4
283283
284284 (II) SUBMIT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION A 5
285285 VEGETATION MANAGEMEN T PLAN DESIGNED TO M ITIGATE HARM TO NATI VE 6
286286 VEGETATION AND POLLI NATOR HABITATS . 7
287287
288288 (2) THE REQUIREMENT TO PL ANT A COVER CROP UND ER PARAGRAPH 8
289289 (1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION D OES NOT APPLY TO LAN D THAT IS ADJACENT T O THE 9
290290 LAND ON WHICH THE SO LAR ENERGY GENERATIN G STATION IS LOCATED . 10
291291
292292 7–216.2. 11
293293
294294 (A) IN THIS SECTION , “ENERGY STORAGE DEVIC E” HAS THE MEANING 12
295295 STATED IN § 7–216 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
296296
297297 (B) THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POWER PLANT 14
298298 RESEARCH PROGRAM, THE COMMISSION’S ENERGY STORAGE WORKING GROUP, 15
299299 AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, SHALL DEVELOP FOR AD OPTION BY THE STATE OR 16
300300 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS : 17
301301
302302 (1) MODEL PERMITTING STA NDARDS FOR ENERGY STORAGE 18
303303 DEVICES; AND 19
304304
305305 (2) MODEL FIRE SUPPRESSI ON STANDARDS AND REQ UIREMENTS FOR 20
306306 ENERGY STORAGE DEVIC ES. 21
307307
308308 Article – State Finance and Procurement 22
309309
310310 4–323. RESERVED. 23
311311
312312 4–324. RESERVED. 24
313313
314314 PART IV. STATE PURCHASE OF SOLAR ENERGY. 25
315315
316316 4–325. 26
317317
318318 (A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, AND EACH DECEMBER 31 27
319319 THEREAFTER THROUGH 2035, THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 28
320320 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SHALL PROCURE 200 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR 29
321321 ENERGY TO MEET THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS , THE STATE’S RENEWABLE ENERGY 30 8 HOUSE BILL 1328
322322
323323
324324 PORTFOLIO STANDARD , AND THE STATE’S NET–ZERO STATEWIDE GREEN HOUSE GAS 1
325325 EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS. 2
326326
327327 (B) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE 3
328328 COMMISSION: 4
329329
330330 (1) SHALL ISSUE A COMPET ITIVE SEALED PROCURE MENT 5
331331 SOLICITATION FOR THE SOLAR ENERGY REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS 6
332332 SECTION; AND 7
333333
334334 (2) MAY ENTER INTO AT LE AST ONE CONTRACT FOR A POWER 8
335335 PURCHASE AGREEMENT T O PROCURE SOLAR ENER GY. 9
336336
337337 (C) THE STATE SHALL: 10
338338
339339 (1) OFFER FOR SALE ANY E NERGY OR RENEWABLE E NERGY CREDITS 11
340340 REMAINING AFTER THE STATE HAS MET ITS REN EWABLE ENERGY PORTFO LIO 12
341341 STANDARD REQUIREMENT S UNDER § 7–703 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE ON 13
342342 THE COMPETITIVE WHOL ESALE POWER MARKET O PERATED BY PJM 14
343343 INTERCONNECTION , THROUGH BILATERAL SA LES TO CREDIT –WORTHY 15
344344 COUNTERPARTIES , OR INTO RENE WABLE ENERGY CREDIT MARKETS; AND 16
345345
346346 (2) BE EXEMPTED FROM THE RENEWABLE ENERGY POR TFOLIO 17
347347 STANDARD REQUIREMENT S UNDER § 7–703 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE IF 18
348348 THE DEPARTMENT PROCURES 100% OF THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS FROM A 19
349349 POWER PURCHASE AGREE MENT REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 20
350350 SECTION. 21
351351
352352 (D) EACH CONTRACT ENTERED INTO UNDER SUBSECTIO N (B) OF THIS 22
353353 SECTION SHALL : 23
354354
355355 (1) INCLUDE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT FO R A SOLAR 24
356356 ENERGY DEVELOPER ; AND 25
357357
358358 (2) BE SUBJECT TO A PROJ ECT LABOR AGREEMENT FOR A SOLAR 26
359359 ENERGY DEVELOPER THAT : 27
360360
361361 (I) BINDS ALL CONTRACTOR S AND SUBCONTRACTORS ON A 28
362362 CONTRACT THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF SPECIFI CATIONS IN ALL RELEV ANT 29
363363 SOLICITATION PROVISI ONS AND CONTRACT DOC UMENTS; 30
364364
365365 (II) ALLOWS ALL CONTRACTO RS AND SUBCONTRACTOR S TO 31
366366 COMPETE FOR CO NTRACTS AND SUBCONTR ACTS ON THE PROJECT WITHOUT 32 HOUSE BILL 1328 9
367367
368368
369369 REGARD TO WHETHER TH EY ARE OTHERWISE PAR TIES TO COLLECTIVE B ARGAINING 1
370370 AGREEMENTS ; 2
371371
372372 (III) ESTABLISHES UNIFORM TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 3
373373 EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL C ONSTRUCTION LABOR EM PLOYED ON A PROJECT ; 4
374374
375375 (IV) GUARANTEES AGAINST STR IKES, LOCKOUTS, AND SIMILAR 5
376376 JOB DISRUPTIONS ; 6
377377
378378 (V) ESTABLISHES MUTUALLY BINDING PROCEDURES F OR 7
379379 LABOR DISPUTES ; AND 8
380380
381381 (VI) INCLUDES ANY OTHER P ROVISIONS NEGOTIATED BY THE 9
382382 PARTIES TO PROMOTE S UCCESSFUL DELIVERY O F SOLAR ENERGY . 10
383383
384384 Article – State Government 11
385385
386386 9–2016. 12
387387
388388 (A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, TO ASSIST THE STATE IN MEETING 13
389389 ITS SOLAR ENERGY COM MITMENTS UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC 14
390390 UTILITIES ARTICLE, THE ADMINISTRATION ’S SOLAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 15
391391 PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT , THE DEPARTMENT OF 16
392392 NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, SHALL: 17
393393
394394 (1) ANALYZE LAND IN THE STATE TO IDENTIFY LAN D SUITABLE FOR 18
395395 SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOP MENT TO ASSIST THE STATE IN MEETING ITS SOLAR 19
396396 ENERGY COMMITMENTS U NDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES 20
397397 ARTICLE; 21
398398
399399 (2) DEVELOP A DATABASE , SORTED BY COUNTY , IDENTIFYING AND 22
400400 RECOMMENDING STATE LAND SUITABLE F OR SOLAR ENERGY DEVE LOPMENT, 23
401401 INCLUDING: 24
402402
403403 (I) BROWNFIELDS ; 25
404404
405405 (II) LANDFILLS; 26
406406
407407 (III) PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES ; AND 27
408408
409409 (IV) LAND OWNED OR UNDER EASEMENT BY : 28
410410
411411 1. THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND 29
412412 PRESERVATION FOUNDATION; 30 10 HOUSE BILL 1328
413413
414414
415415
416416 2. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ; AND 1
417417
418418 3. THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND 2
419419
420420 (3) ESTABLISH A GOAL FOR THE AMOUNT OF STATE LAND THAT MAY 3
421421 BE USED FOR SOLAR EN ERGY GENERATION TO M EET THE STATE’S RENEWABLE 4
422422 ENERGY PORTFOLIO STA NDARD GOALS FOR SOLA R ENERGY UNDER TITLE 7, 5
423423 SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 6
424424
425425 (B) THE DATABASE DEVELOPE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (A) OF 7
426426 THIS SECTION SHALL I NCLUDE: 8
427427
428428 (1) THE ACREAGE OF EACH PLOT OF LAND; 9
429429
430430 (2) WHETHER THE PLOT OF LAND IS SUBJECT TO C ONSERVATION 10
431431 EASEMENTS OR ZONING ; AND 11
432432
433433 (3) THE ACREAGE THAT A STATE AGENCY OFFERS F OR USE FOR 12
434434 SOLAR DEVELOPMENT . 13
435435
436436 (C) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, EACH ELECTRIC COMPAN Y SHALL SUBMIT 14
437437 TO THE SOLAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION T O ASSIST THE 15
438438 PROGRAM IN ITS ANALYS IS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING: 16
439439
440440 (1) THE LOCATION OF EACH TRANSMISSION AND DIS TRIBUTION 17
441441 CIRCUIT USED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 18
442442
443443 (2) THE NUMBER OF SUBSTA TION TRANSFORMERS OW NED BY THE 19
444444 ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 20
445445
446446 (3) THE KILOVOLT –AMPERE RATING OF EAC H SUBSTATION 21
447447 TRANSFORMER OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 22
448448
449449 (4) LINE EQUIPMENT FOR E ACH CONDUCTOR OWNE D BY THE 23
450450 ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 24
451451
452452 (5) CONDUCTOR RATINGS FO R EACH CONDUCTOR OWN ED BY THE 25
453453 ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 26
454454
455455 (6) CURRENT AND QUEUED G ENERATION ON CIRCUIT S AND 27
456456 TRANSFORMERS OWNED B Y THE ELECTRIC COMPA NY, TO BE UPDATED QUARTE RLY; 28
457457 HOUSE BILL 1328 11
458458
459459
460460 (7) THE LOADS OF EACH CI RCUIT AND SUBSTATION OWNED BY THE 1
461461 ELECTRIC COMPANY , INCLUDING PEAK AND M INIMUM DAYTIME LOAD ; 2
462462
463463 (8) THE STATUS OF CONSTR UCTION FOR NEW LINES AND 3
464464 SUBSTATIONS OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; AND 4
465465
466466 (9) AVERAGE COSTS TO UPG RADE SUBSTATIONS AND CIRCUITS 5
467467 OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY . 6
468468
469469 (D) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL 7
470470 LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 8
471471 AGRICULTURE , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HOWARD HUGHES CENTER FOR 9
472472 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE , SHALL SUBMIT TO THE SOLAR TECHNICAL 10
473473 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE 11
474474 GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT CON TAINING: 12
475475
476476 (1) A LIST OF REAL PROPE RTY OWNED AND CONSER VATION 13
477477 EASEMENTS HELD BY TH E FOUNDATION; 14
478478
479479 (2) THE FUNDS REQUIRED T O RENEW EACH CONSERV ATION 15
480480 EASEMENT; AND 16
481481
482482 (3) RECOMMENDATIONS CONC ERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 17
483483 STATE TO RETURN LAND HELD BY THE FOUNDATION UNDER A CO NSERVATION 18
484484 EASEMENT TO ITS ORIG INAL CONDITION . 19
485485
486486 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 20
487487 Assembly that two Position Identification Numbers (PINs) be created in the Department of 21
488488 Natural Resources for full–time positions in the Power Plant Research Program that will 22
489489 focus on providing support and guidance to local governments on the permitting process for 23
490490 solar energy development. 24
491491
492492 SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25
493493 1, 2024. 26
494494