Andrea Mansfield, on behalf of MACo, submitted written testimony in support of HB 105, Local Government – Clean Energy Loan Program – Commercial Property Owners – Renewable Energy Projects, to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2016.

Clean energy loan programs, first authorized in 2009, create a significant opportunity for local governments to help commercial and residential property owners reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment. When originally enacted, statutory language limited financing for commercial property owners to renewable energy projects with an electric generating capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts.

This bill would expand commercial financing options available through clean energy loan programs by removing the limitation that commercial renewable energy projects generate no more than 100 kilowatts.

From the MACo testimony,

Maryland has set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Larger scale renewable energy projects financed through Clean Energy Loan Programs could help the state meet these goals. Removing the limitation on the electric generating capacity of renewable energy projects could also serve as an incentive for more local governments to establish clean energy loan programs.

This bill passed the House (109-29) on February 19, 2016.

An identical cross-filed bill, SB 173, passed the Senate (45-0) on February 4, 2016 and is now being considered in the House.

For more information on 2016 MACo legislation, visit the Legislative Database.