| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W. |
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| 4 | 4 | | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. |
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| 5 | 5 | | *hb0645* |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 8 | 8 | | C5, L6 5lr2342 |
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| 9 | 9 | | CF 5lr1303 |
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| 10 | 10 | | By: Delegate Guyton |
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| 11 | 11 | | Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025 |
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| 12 | 12 | | Assigned to: Economic Matters |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A BILL ENTITLED |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | AN ACT concerning 1 |
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| 17 | 17 | | |
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| 18 | 18 | | Transmission Line Siting – Comprehensive Plan, Recommendation, and 2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Reporting Requirements 3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | FOR the purpose of requiring each county and Baltimore City to update its comprehensive 4 |
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| 22 | 22 | | plan to include an electric system planning element; requiring each electric company 5 |
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| 23 | 23 | | serving a county or Baltimore City to report to that county or the City regarding the 6 |
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| 24 | 24 | | electric company’s compliance with certain provisions of the county’s or City’s electric 7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | system planning element; requiring the Public Service Commission to consider 8 |
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| 26 | 26 | | county and municipal government recommendations and certain applicant 9 |
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| 27 | 27 | | considerations for an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 10 |
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| 28 | 28 | | for the construction of certain overhead transmission lines; requiring each electric 11 |
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| 29 | 29 | | company to submit a report on electricity demand to the Commission each year; and 12 |
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| 30 | 30 | | generally relating to transmission line construction and siting in the State. 13 |
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| 31 | 31 | | |
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| 32 | 32 | | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14 |
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| 33 | 33 | | Article – Land Use 15 |
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| 34 | 34 | | Section 1–401(b)(1), 1–402(b), and 10–103(b)(9) 16 |
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| 35 | 35 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 17 |
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| 36 | 36 | | (2012 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18 |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | Article – Land Use 20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | Section 1–406(a) and 3–102(a) 21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | (2012 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | |
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| 44 | 44 | | BY adding to 24 |
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| 45 | 45 | | Article – Land Use 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Section 1–413 and 3–115 26 |
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| 47 | 47 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 27 |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2012 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 28 2 HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | |
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| 52 | 52 | | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1 |
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| 53 | 53 | | Article – Public Utilities 2 |
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| 54 | 54 | | Section 7–207(e) and (f) and 7–802 3 |
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| 55 | 55 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 4 |
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| 56 | 56 | | (2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5 |
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| 57 | 57 | | |
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| 58 | 58 | | BY adding to 6 |
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| 59 | 59 | | Article – Public Utilities 7 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Section 7–802.1 8 |
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| 61 | 61 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 9 |
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| 62 | 62 | | (2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10 |
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| 63 | 63 | | |
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| 64 | 64 | | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11 |
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| 65 | 65 | | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12 |
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| 66 | 66 | | |
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| 67 | 67 | | Article – Land Use 13 |
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| 68 | 68 | | |
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| 69 | 69 | | 1–401. 14 |
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| 70 | 70 | | |
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| 71 | 71 | | (b) The following provisions of this division apply to a charter county: 15 |
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| 72 | 72 | | |
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| 73 | 73 | | (1) this subtitle, including Parts II and III (Charter county 16 |
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| 74 | 74 | | – Comprehensive plans); 17 |
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| 75 | 75 | | |
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| 76 | 76 | | 1–402. 18 |
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| 77 | 77 | | |
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| 78 | 78 | | (b) A code county that chooses to exercise the powers relating to land use stated 19 |
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| 79 | 79 | | in Title 10 of the Local Government Article shall be treated as a charter county for purposes 20 |
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| 80 | 80 | | of § 1–401 of this subtitle. 21 |
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| 81 | 81 | | |
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| 82 | 82 | | 1–406. 22 |
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| 83 | 83 | | |
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| 84 | 84 | | (a) (1) The planning commission for a charter county shall include in the 23 |
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| 85 | 85 | | comprehensive or general plan the visions under § 1–201 of this title and the following 24 |
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| 86 | 86 | | elements: 25 |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | (i) a development regulations element; 26 |
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| 89 | 89 | | |
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| 90 | 90 | | (ii) a housing element; 27 |
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| 91 | 91 | | |
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| 92 | 92 | | (iii) a sensitive areas element; 28 |
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| 93 | 93 | | |
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| 94 | 94 | | (iv) a transportation element; [and] 29 |
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| 95 | 95 | | |
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| 96 | 96 | | (v) a water resources element; AND 30 |
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| 97 | 97 | | HOUSE BILL 645 3 |
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| 98 | 98 | | |
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| 99 | 99 | | |
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| 100 | 100 | | (VI) AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM P LANNING ELEMENT . 1 |
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| 101 | 101 | | |
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| 102 | 102 | | (2) If current geological information is available, the plan shall include a 2 |
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| 103 | 103 | | mineral resources element. 3 |
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| 104 | 104 | | |
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| 105 | 105 | | 1–413. 4 |
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| 106 | 106 | | |
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| 107 | 107 | | (A) IN THIS SECTION, “ELECTRIC COMPANY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 5 |
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| 108 | 108 | | § 1–101 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 6 |
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| 109 | 109 | | |
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| 110 | 110 | | (B) TO MINIMIZE THE IMPAC T OF FUTURE TRANSMIS SION LINE 7 |
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| 111 | 111 | | DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM P LANNING ELEMENT SHAL L: 8 |
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| 112 | 112 | | |
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| 113 | 113 | | (1) DEVELOP OR IDENTIFY TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS IN THE 9 |
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| 114 | 114 | | COUNTY; 10 |
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| 115 | 115 | | |
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| 116 | 116 | | (2) DEVELOP A FUTURE SCE NARIO PLAN FOR THE B UILDOUT OF 11 |
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| 117 | 117 | | HIGH–ENERGY USE TRANSMISS ION LINES IN THE COU NTY; 12 |
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| 118 | 118 | | |
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| 119 | 119 | | (3) ALIGN THE DEVELOPMEN T OF TRANSMISSION LI NE CORRIDORS 13 |
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| 120 | 120 | | WITH: 14 |
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| 121 | 121 | | |
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| 122 | 122 | | (I) APPROVED AND PLANNED HIGH–ENERGY USE FACILITY 15 |
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| 123 | 123 | | GROWTH; 16 |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | (II) ELECTRICITY NEEDS ; AND 17 |
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| 126 | 126 | | |
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| 127 | 127 | | (III) RELIABILITY CONCERNS ; 18 |
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| 128 | 128 | | |
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| 129 | 129 | | (4) ESTABLISH AS A PRIOR ITY THE SITING OF HI GH–ENERGY USE 19 |
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| 130 | 130 | | FACILITIES NEAR TRAN SMISSION LINE CORRID ORS IDENTIFIED BY TH E PLAN TO 20 |
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| 131 | 131 | | MINIMIZE THE NEED FO R ADDITIONAL TRANSMI SSION LINE INFRASTRUCTURE ; AND 21 |
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| 132 | 132 | | |
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| 133 | 133 | | (5) SUPPORT: 22 |
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| 134 | 134 | | |
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| 135 | 135 | | (I) THE CO–LOCATION OF PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINES 23 |
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| 136 | 136 | | WITH EXISTING INFRAS TRUCTURE; 24 |
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| 137 | 137 | | |
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| 138 | 138 | | (II) BUILDING UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION LINES W ITHIN 25 |
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| 139 | 139 | | EXISTING OVERHEAD TR ANSMISSION LINE RIGH TS–OF–WAY; 26 |
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| 140 | 140 | | |
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| 141 | 141 | | (III) BUILDING UNDERGROU ND TRANSMISSION LINE S INSTEAD 27 |
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| 142 | 142 | | OF OVERHEAD TRANSMIS SION LINES ALONG NEW ROUTES; 28 |
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| 143 | 143 | | 4 HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 144 | 144 | | |
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| 145 | 145 | | |
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| 146 | 146 | | (IV) RECONDUCTORING AND L INE CAPACITY UPGRADE S FOR 1 |
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| 147 | 147 | | EXISTING TRANSMISSIO N LINES; AND 2 |
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| 148 | 148 | | |
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| 149 | 149 | | (V) INCORPORATING ELECTR IC DISTRIBUTION SYST EM 3 |
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| 150 | 150 | | ENHANCING TECHNOLOGI ES INTO THE ELECTR IC DISTRIBUTION SYST EM. 4 |
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| 151 | 151 | | |
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| 152 | 152 | | (C) A COUNTY SHALL CONSULT WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN 5 |
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| 153 | 153 | | DEVELOPING AN ELECTR IC SYSTEM PLANNING E LEMENT. 6 |
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| 154 | 154 | | |
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| 155 | 155 | | (D) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH YEAR THEREA FTER, EACH 7 |
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| 156 | 156 | | ELECTRIC COMPANY PRO VIDING SERVICE IN A COUNTY SHA LL REPORT TO THAT 8 |
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| 157 | 157 | | COUNTY ON THE ELECTR IC COMPANY’S EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH SUBSECTION 9 |
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| 158 | 158 | | (B)(5) OF THIS SECTION. 10 |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | 3–102. 11 |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | (a) (1) The planning commission for a local jurisdiction shall include in the 12 |
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| 163 | 163 | | comprehensive plan the following elements: 13 |
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| 164 | 164 | | |
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| 165 | 165 | | (i) a community facilities element; 14 |
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| 166 | 166 | | |
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| 167 | 167 | | (ii) an area of critical State concern element; 15 |
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| 168 | 168 | | |
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| 169 | 169 | | (iii) a goals and objectives element; 16 |
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| 170 | 170 | | |
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| 171 | 171 | | (iv) a housing element; 17 |
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| 172 | 172 | | |
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| 173 | 173 | | (v) a land use element; 18 |
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| 174 | 174 | | |
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| 175 | 175 | | (vi) a development regulations element; 19 |
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| 176 | 176 | | |
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| 177 | 177 | | (vii) a sensitive areas element; 20 |
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| 178 | 178 | | |
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| 179 | 179 | | (viii) a transportation element; and 21 |
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| 180 | 180 | | |
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| 181 | 181 | | (ix) a water resources element. 22 |
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| 182 | 182 | | |
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| 183 | 183 | | (2) If current geological information is available, the plan shall include a 23 |
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| 184 | 184 | | mineral resources element. 24 |
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| 185 | 185 | | |
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| 186 | 186 | | (3) The plan for a municipal corporation that exercises zoning authority 25 |
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| 187 | 187 | | shall include a municipal growth element. 26 |
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| 188 | 188 | | |
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| 189 | 189 | | (4) The plan for a county that is located on the tidal waters of the State 27 |
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| 190 | 190 | | shall include a fisheries element. 28 |
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| 191 | 191 | | HOUSE BILL 645 5 |
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| 192 | 192 | | |
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| 193 | 193 | | |
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| 194 | 194 | | (5) THE PLAN FOR A COUNTY SHALL INCLUDE AN ELE CTRIC SYSTEM 1 |
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| 195 | 195 | | PLANNING ELEMENT . 2 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | 3–115. 3 |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | (A) IN THIS SECTION, “ELECTRIC COMPANY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 4 |
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| 200 | 200 | | § 1–101 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 5 |
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| 201 | 201 | | |
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| 202 | 202 | | (B) TO MINIMIZE THE IMPAC T OF FUTURE TRANSMIS SION LINE 6 |
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| 203 | 203 | | DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM P LANNING ELEMENT SHAL L: 7 |
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| 204 | 204 | | |
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| 205 | 205 | | (1) DEVELOP OR IDENTIFY TRANSMISSION LINE CO RRIDORS IN THE 8 |
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| 206 | 206 | | COUNTY; 9 |
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| 207 | 207 | | |
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| 208 | 208 | | (2) DEVELOP A FUTURE SCE NARIO PLAN FOR THE B UILDOUT OF 10 |
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| 209 | 209 | | HIGH–ENERGY USE TRANSMISS ION LINES IN THE COU NTY; 11 |
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| 210 | 210 | | |
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| 211 | 211 | | (3) ALIGN THE DEVELOPMEN T OF TRANSMISSION LI NE CORRIDORS 12 |
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| 212 | 212 | | WITH: 13 |
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| 213 | 213 | | |
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| 214 | 214 | | (I) APPROVED AND PLANNED HIGH–ENERGY USE FACILITY 14 |
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| 215 | 215 | | GROWTH; 15 |
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| 216 | 216 | | |
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| 217 | 217 | | (II) ELECTRICITY NEEDS ; AND 16 |
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| 218 | 218 | | |
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| 219 | 219 | | (III) RELIABILITY CONCERNS ; 17 |
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| 220 | 220 | | |
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| 221 | 221 | | (4) ESTABLISH AS A PRIOR ITY THE SITING OF HI GH–ENERGY USE 18 |
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| 222 | 222 | | FACILITIES NEAR TRAN SMISSION LINE CORRID ORS IDENTIFIED BY TH E PLAN TO 19 |
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| 223 | 223 | | MINIMIZE THE NEED FO R ADDITIONAL TRANS MISSION LINE INFRAST RUCTURE; AND 20 |
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| 224 | 224 | | |
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| 225 | 225 | | (5) SUPPORT: 21 |
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| 226 | 226 | | |
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| 227 | 227 | | (I) THE CO–LOCATION OF PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINES 22 |
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| 228 | 228 | | WITH EXISTING INFRAS TRUCTURE; 23 |
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| 229 | 229 | | |
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| 230 | 230 | | (II) BUILDING UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION LINES W ITHIN 24 |
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| 231 | 231 | | EXISTING OVERHEAD TR ANSMISSION LINE RIGH TS–OF–WAY; 25 |
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| 232 | 232 | | |
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| 233 | 233 | | (III) BUILDING UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION LINES I NSTEAD 26 |
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| 234 | 234 | | OF OVERHEAD TRANSMIS SION LINES ALONG NEW ROUTES; 27 |
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| 235 | 235 | | 6 HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 236 | 236 | | |
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| 237 | 237 | | |
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| 238 | 238 | | (IV) RECONDUCTORING AND L INE CAPACITY UPGRADE S FOR 1 |
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| 239 | 239 | | EXISTING TRANSMISSIO N LINES; AND 2 |
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| 240 | 240 | | |
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| 241 | 241 | | (V) INCORPORATING ELECTR IC DISTRIBUTION SYST EM 3 |
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| 242 | 242 | | ENHANCING TECHNOLOGI ES INTO THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM . 4 |
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| 243 | 243 | | |
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| 244 | 244 | | (C) A COUNTY SHALL CONSULT WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN 5 |
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| 245 | 245 | | DEVELOPING AN ELECTR IC SYSTEM PLANNING E LEMENT. 6 |
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| 246 | 246 | | |
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| 247 | 247 | | (D) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH YEAR THEREA FTER, EACH 7 |
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| 248 | 248 | | ELECTRIC COMPANY PRO VIDING SERVICE TO A COUNTY SHALL REPORT TO THAT 8 |
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| 249 | 249 | | COUNTY ON THE ELECTR IC COMPANY’S EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH SUBSECTION 9 |
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| 250 | 250 | | (B)(5) OF THIS SECTION. 10 |
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| 251 | 251 | | |
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| 252 | 252 | | 10–103. 11 |
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| 253 | 253 | | |
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| 254 | 254 | | (b) The following provisions of this division apply to Baltimore City: 12 |
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| 255 | 255 | | |
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| 256 | 256 | | (9) Title 1, Subtitle 4, Parts II and III (Home Rule Counties – 13 |
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| 257 | 257 | | Comprehensive Plans; Implementation); 14 |
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| 258 | 258 | | |
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| 259 | 259 | | Article – Public Utilities 15 |
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| 260 | 260 | | |
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| 261 | 261 | | 7–207. 16 |
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| 262 | 262 | | |
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| 263 | 263 | | (e) The Commission shall take final action on an application for a certificate of 17 |
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| 264 | 264 | | public convenience and necessity only after due consideration of: 18 |
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| 265 | 265 | | |
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| 266 | 266 | | (1) (I) the recommendation of the governing body of each county or 19 |
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| 267 | 267 | | municipal corporation in which any portion of the construction of the generating station[, 20 |
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| 268 | 268 | | overhead transmission line,] or qualified generator lead line is proposed to be located; OR 21 |
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| 269 | 269 | | |
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| 270 | 270 | | (II) FOR CONSTRUCTION RELA TED TO A NEW OVERHEA D 22 |
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| 271 | 271 | | TRANSMISSION LINE , THE RECOMMENDATION O F EACH COUNTY OR MUN ICIPAL 23 |
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| 272 | 272 | | CORPORATION IN WHICH ANY PORTION OF THE C ONSTRUCTION OF THE O VERHEAD 24 |
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| 273 | 273 | | TRANSMISSION LINE IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCAT ED, INCLUDING A 25 |
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| 274 | 274 | | RECOMMENDATION OF TH E COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AS TO WH ETHER 26 |
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| 275 | 275 | | EXISTING INFRASTRUCT URE, RIGHTS–OF–WAY, OR TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS 27 |
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| 276 | 276 | | CAN BE USED TO ACCOM PLISH THE APPLICANT ’S GOAL RATHER THAN 28 |
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| 277 | 277 | | CONSTRUCTING A NEW O VERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE; 29 |
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| 278 | 278 | | |
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| 279 | 279 | | (2) the effect of the generating station, overhead transmission line, or 30 |
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| 280 | 280 | | qualified generator lead line on: 31 |
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| 281 | 281 | | |
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| 282 | 282 | | (i) the stability and reliability of the electric system; 32 HOUSE BILL 645 7 |
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| 283 | 283 | | |
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| 284 | 284 | | |
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| 285 | 285 | | |
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| 286 | 286 | | (ii) economics; 1 |
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| 287 | 287 | | |
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| 288 | 288 | | (iii) esthetics; 2 |
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| 289 | 289 | | |
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| 290 | 290 | | (iv) historic sites; 3 |
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| 291 | 291 | | |
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| 292 | 292 | | (v) aviation safety as determined by the Maryland Aviation 4 |
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| 293 | 293 | | Administration and the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; 5 |
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| 294 | 294 | | |
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| 295 | 295 | | (vi) when applicable, air quality and water pollution; and 6 |
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| 296 | 296 | | |
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| 297 | 297 | | (vii) the availability of means for the required timely disposal of 7 |
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| 298 | 298 | | wastes produced by any generating station; 8 |
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| 299 | 299 | | |
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| 300 | 300 | | (3) the effect of climate change on the generating station, overhead 9 |
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| 301 | 301 | | transmission line, or qualified generator lead line based on the best available scientific 10 |
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| 302 | 302 | | information recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and 11 |
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| 303 | 303 | | |
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| 304 | 304 | | (4) for a generating station: 12 |
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| 305 | 305 | | |
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| 306 | 306 | | (i) the consistency of the application with the comprehensive plan 13 |
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| 307 | 307 | | and zoning of each county or municipal corporation where any portion of the generating 14 |
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| 308 | 308 | | station is proposed to be located; 15 |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | (ii) the efforts to resolve any issues presented by a county or 16 |
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| 311 | 311 | | municipal corporation where any portion of the generating station is proposed to be located; 17 |
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| 312 | 312 | | |
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| 313 | 313 | | (iii) the impact of the generating station on the quantity of annual 18 |
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| 314 | 314 | | and long–term statewide greenhouse gas emissions, measured in the manner specified in § 19 |
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| 315 | 315 | | 2–1202 of the Environment Article and based on the best available scientific information 20 |
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| 316 | 316 | | recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and 21 |
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| 317 | 317 | | |
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| 318 | 318 | | (iv) the consistency of the application with the State’s climate 22 |
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| 319 | 319 | | commitments for reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions, including those specified 23 |
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| 320 | 320 | | in Title 2, Subtitle 12 of the Environment Article. 24 |
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| 321 | 321 | | |
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| 322 | 322 | | (f) For the construction of an overhead transmission line, in addition to the 25 |
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| 323 | 323 | | considerations listed in subsection (e) of this section, the Commission shall: 26 |
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| 324 | 324 | | |
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| 325 | 325 | | (1) take final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience 27 |
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| 326 | 326 | | and necessity only after due consideration of: 28 |
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| 327 | 327 | | |
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| 328 | 328 | | (i) the need to meet existing and future demand for electric service; 29 |
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| 329 | 329 | | and 30 |
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| 330 | 330 | | |
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| 331 | 331 | | (ii) for construction related to a new overhead transmission line[,]: 31 8 HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 332 | 332 | | |
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| 333 | 333 | | |
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| 334 | 334 | | |
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| 335 | 335 | | 1. the alternative routes that the applicant considered, 1 |
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| 336 | 336 | | including the estimated capital and operating costs of each alternative route and a 2 |
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| 337 | 337 | | statement of the reason why the alternative route was rejected; AND 3 |
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| 338 | 338 | | |
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| 339 | 339 | | 2. ANY EXISTING INFRAST RUCTURE, RIGHTS–OF–WAY, 4 |
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| 340 | 340 | | OR TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS THE APPLIC ANT CONSIDERED , INCLUDING THE 5 |
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| 341 | 341 | | ESTIMATED CAPITAL AN D OPERATING COSTS OF USING EACH EXISTING ROUTE AND 6 |
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| 342 | 342 | | A STATEMENT DETAILIN G THE REASON S WHY THE EXISTING R OUTE WAS REJECTED ; 7 |
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| 343 | 343 | | |
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| 344 | 344 | | (2) require as an ongoing condition of the certificate of public convenience 8 |
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| 345 | 345 | | and necessity that an applicant comply with: 9 |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | (i) all relevant agreements with PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., or its 10 |
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| 348 | 348 | | successors, related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the overhead transmission 11 |
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| 349 | 349 | | line; and 12 |
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| 350 | 350 | | |
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| 351 | 351 | | (ii) all obligations imposed by the North America Electric Reliability 13 |
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| 352 | 352 | | Council and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission related to the ongoing operation 14 |
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| 353 | 353 | | and maintenance of the overhead transmission line; and 15 |
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| 354 | 354 | | |
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| 355 | 355 | | (3) require the applicant to identify whether the overhead transmission 16 |
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| 356 | 356 | | line is proposed to be constructed on: 17 |
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| 357 | 357 | | |
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| 358 | 358 | | (i) an existing brownfields site; 18 |
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| 359 | 359 | | |
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| 360 | 360 | | (ii) property that is subject to an existing easement; or 19 |
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| 361 | 361 | | |
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| 362 | 362 | | (iii) a site where a tower structure or components of a tower structure 20 |
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| 363 | 363 | | used to support an overhead transmission line exist. 21 |
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| 364 | 364 | | |
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| 365 | 365 | | 7–802. 22 |
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| 366 | 366 | | |
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| 367 | 367 | | (A) On or before December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter, the 23 |
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| 368 | 368 | | Commission shall submit a report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 24 |
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| 369 | 369 | | Article, to the General Assembly with information regarding the current status of projects 25 |
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| 370 | 370 | | designed to promote the goals identified in this section, including information on planning 26 |
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| 371 | 371 | | processes and implementation that promote, as specific goals, the following: 27 |
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| 372 | 372 | | |
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| 373 | 373 | | (1) measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions incident to electric 28 |
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| 374 | 374 | | distribution, including high levels of distributed energy resources and electric vehicles; 29 |
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| 375 | 375 | | |
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| 376 | 376 | | (2) giving priority to vulnerable communities in the development of 30 |
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| 377 | 377 | | distributed energy resources and electric vehicle infrastructure; 31 |
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| 378 | 378 | | |
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| 379 | 379 | | (3) energy efficiency; 32 HOUSE BILL 645 9 |
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| 380 | 380 | | |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
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| 383 | 383 | | (4) meeting anticipated increases in load; 1 |
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| 384 | 384 | | |
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| 385 | 385 | | (5) incorporation of energy storage technology as appropriate and prudent 2 |
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| 386 | 386 | | to: 3 |
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| 387 | 387 | | |
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| 388 | 388 | | (i) support efficiency and reliability of the electric system; and 4 |
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| 389 | 389 | | |
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| 390 | 390 | | (ii) provide additional capacity to accommodate increased 5 |
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| 391 | 391 | | distributed renewable electricity generation in connection with electric transmission and 6 |
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| 392 | 392 | | distribution system modernization; 7 |
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| 393 | 393 | | |
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| 394 | 394 | | (6) efficient management of load variability; 8 |
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| 395 | 395 | | |
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| 396 | 396 | | (7) electric system resiliency and reliability; 9 |
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| 397 | 397 | | |
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| 398 | 398 | | (8) bidirectional power flows; 10 |
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| 399 | 399 | | |
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| 400 | 400 | | (9) demand response and other nonwire and noncapital alternatives; 11 |
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| 401 | 401 | | |
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| 402 | 402 | | (10) increased use of distributed energy resources, including electric 12 |
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| 403 | 403 | | vehicles; 13 |
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| 404 | 404 | | |
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| 405 | 405 | | (11) transparent stakeholder participation in ongoing electric system 14 |
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| 406 | 406 | | planning processes; and 15 |
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| 407 | 407 | | |
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| 408 | 408 | | (12) any other issues the Commission considers appropriate. 16 |
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| 409 | 409 | | |
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| 410 | 410 | | (B) BEGINNING DECEMBER 1, 2025, THE COMMISSION SHALL INCL UDE THE 17 |
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| 411 | 411 | | INFORMATION RECEIVED FR OM THE ELECTRIC COMP ANY REPORTS SUBMITTE D TO 18 |
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| 412 | 412 | | THE COMMISSION UNDER § 7–802.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE IN THE REPORT REQUIRED 19 |
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| 413 | 413 | | UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 20 |
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| 414 | 414 | | |
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| 415 | 415 | | 7–802.1. 21 |
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| 416 | 416 | | |
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| 417 | 417 | | ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND EACH OCTOBER 1 THEREAFTER , EACH 22 |
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| 418 | 418 | | ELECTRIC COMPANY SHA LL SUBMIT A REPORT T O THE COMMISSION ON HOW THE 23 |
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| 419 | 419 | | ELECTRIC COMPANY IS ADDRESSING GROWING E LECTRICITY DEMAND AN D 24 |
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| 420 | 420 | | PROJECTS RELATED TO MEETING THAT DEMAND , INCLUDING: 25 |
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| 421 | 421 | | |
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| 422 | 422 | | (1) THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ’S FORECASTED LOAD GR OWTH; 26 |
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| 423 | 423 | | |
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| 424 | 424 | | (2) THE ELECTRIC COMPANY’S ASSESSMENT OF WHAT RESOURCES 27 |
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| 425 | 425 | | ARE AVAILABLE TO THE ELECTRIC COMPANY TO MEET THE FORECASTED LOAD; 28 |
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| 426 | 426 | | 10 HOUSE BILL 645 |
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| 427 | 427 | | |
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| 428 | 428 | | |
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| 429 | 429 | | (3) THE AREAS FROM WHICH THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ANTICIPATES 1 |
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| 430 | 430 | | THE EXPECTED INCREAS ED DEMAND TO COME , INCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF 2 |
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| 431 | 431 | | INCREASED DEMAND EXP ECTED IN THOSE AREAS; 3 |
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| 432 | 432 | | |
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| 433 | 433 | | (4) THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ’S PLANS TO MEET GROW ING 4 |
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| 434 | 434 | | ELECTRICITY DEMAND ; 5 |
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| 435 | 435 | | |
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| 436 | 436 | | (5) ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS 6 |
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| 437 | 437 | | ON ELECTRICITY DEMAN D AND FORECASTED LOA D; 7 |
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| 438 | 438 | | |
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| 439 | 439 | | (6) THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ’S USE OF DEMAND RESP ONSE 8 |
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| 440 | 440 | | PRACTICES; 9 |
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| 441 | 441 | | |
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| 442 | 442 | | (7) A COMPREHENSIVE EVAL UATION OF ANY INITIA TIVES THE 10 |
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| 443 | 443 | | ELECTRIC COMPANY IS TAKING TO CONNECT TIER 1 RENEWABLE SOURCES AT THE 11 |
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| 444 | 444 | | DISTRIBUTION LEVEL T O REDUCE STRESS ON T HE ELECTRIC DISTRIBU TION 12 |
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| 445 | 445 | | SYSTEM; AND 13 |
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| 446 | 446 | | |
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| 447 | 447 | | (8) A LIST OF PROJECTS T HE ELECTRIC COMPANY IS WORKING ON 14 |
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| 448 | 448 | | THAT REQUIRE APPROVA L BY PJM INTERCONNECTION , L.L.C. 15 |
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| 449 | 449 | | |
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| 450 | 450 | | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 16 |
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| 451 | 451 | | 1, 2025. 17 |
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| 452 | 452 | | |
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