On March 7, 2024, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the House Economic Matters Committee in opposition to HB 1046 – Public Utilities – Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This bill removes community-level input into the sitting and approval of energy projects from 2-5 megawatts in scope. It also requires that the Public Service Commission approve of projects that meet certain modest guidelines.
If enacted, HB 1046 would further neuter the minor remaining county input for projects of 2-5 MW and would establish a nearly “rubber stamp” state-level process with a very narrowly defined area for evaluation and review.
The establishment of the PPRP standards is the first and only opportunity to identify potential concerns for all 2-5 MW projects for anyone, now and forever. This extends far beyond any reasonable approval process, ignores important input on community health and safety, and represents an unreasonable departure from the already-streamlined Maryland approval process for major generation sites.
HB 1046’s cross-file, SB 1025, was also heard on March 7 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Dominic Butchko testified in opposition to this bill.
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