Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - BURDEN Analysis (CHERISH Our Communities Act)

SB 780 (CHERISH Our Communities Act) requires applicants for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new or modified power plants to submit a "BURDEN report" analyzing environmental and public health burdens in the surrounding area. This applies specifically to projects located in "at-risk census tracts," defined as areas meeting certain thresholds for pollution exposure, health indicators (like asthma ER visits), or proximity to hazardous sites (e.g., power plants, landfills). The bill mandates the Public Service Commission to deny applications if issuing the certificate would worsen environmental or public health stressors in these overburdened communities. The report must include baseline data on disparities and environmental needs, using Maryland’s EJ Score and mapping tool to identify affected areas.