Energy

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 869: Vehicle Laws - Electric Vehicle Dealer Licenses - City of Bowie

HB 869 creates a special license for manufacturers or distributors that sell *only* electric or nonfossil-fuel vehicles, allowing them to operate as dealers in Maryland. This license is restricted to the City of Bowie only, with no more than one such dealership permitted there. The bill modifies vehicle dealer licensing rules to require that applicants have no existing dealerships in Maryland and must not control other dealerships under the same provisions. It directly affects EV-focused manufacturers/distributors seeking to establish a Bowie-based dealership. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates license for EV dealers to promote electric vehicle adoption, reducing fossil fuel dependence in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates special EV dealer license in Bowie, directly promoting sustainable transportation adoption through regulatory support for electric vehicles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1442: Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program - Definition, Application, and Workgroup - Modifications

HB 1442 expands Maryland's Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program from being limited to Montgomery County to apply statewide across all counties and Baltimore City. The bill modifies the definition of "community choice aggregator" to include residential electric customers served by specific member-regulated and small rural electric cooperatives. This change allows these cooperatives to participate in local electricity purchasing programs that negotiate better rates for residents, while removing the previous geographic restriction to Montgomery County only. The bill also updates workgroup membership requirements to reflect these expanded program parameters.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands statewide Community Choice Aggregation program, enabling cooperatives to negotiate electricity rates and potentially increase renewable energy procurement for consumers.85% confidence

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1532: Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act

HB 1532 amends Maryland's energy laws to adjust electricity rate structures and efficiency programs. It lowers the qualifying threshold for large commercial/industrial customers to access a specific rate schedule from 100 megawatts to 25 megawatts, directly affecting major energy users like factories and data centers. The bill also changes multiyear rate plan rules to prevent utilities from passing certain costs to customers and requires refunds if actual revenue differs from forecasts. Additionally, it updates energy efficiency program cycles, greenhouse gas target calculations, and definitions for energy resources like "zero-emission credits" used in procurement.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyLowers rate access threshold for efficiency programs, prevents utility cost passing to consumers, and requires revenue refunds - directly advancing energy efficiency and consumer protection.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill advances energy efficiency programs under Next Generation Energy Act, promoting cleaner energy use and reducing emissions through rate structure adjustments for commercial/industrial users.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Climate Change

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 870: Environment - Permit Applications for New Buildings - Notice (Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act)

HB 870, the "Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act," requires new construction of large commercial and multifamily residential buildings (over 35,000 square feet) to meet specific energy conservation standards set by the Maryland Department of Labor. The bill defines "covered buildings" to include most large commercial structures and state-owned buildings, but excludes historic properties, schools, manufacturing facilities, and agricultural buildings. It mandates that adopted energy conservation requirements must be at least as stringent as the International Energy Conservation Code, with the state allowed to set stricter standards to improve efficiency. The law also establishes clear definitions for terms like "energy conservation measure" to guide implementation and ensure consistency.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates energy conservation standards for new large commercial/multifamily buildings, directly advancing energy efficiency goals per bill's core requirement.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy conservation standards for large buildings, reducing energy consumption and emissions, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 954: Electricity Generation and Storage - Investor-Owned Electric Companies and Front-of-the-Meter Storage (Affordable Energy Act)

SB 954, the "Affordable Energy Act," requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to mandate investor-owned electric companies to submit resource adequacy plans if the state faces insufficient power supply or a "price stability event" (when PJM capacity market prices exceed projected new generation costs). These plans must prioritize renewable energy investments and address shortages through new generation or storage projects. The bill also allows utilities to recover prudently incurred costs - including stranded investments - for constructing or operating generation facilities, with a minimum annual return tied to federal transmission rates. It directly affects Maryland's investor-owned electric utilities by shaping how they plan for reliability and recover infrastructure costs.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates prioritization of renewable energy investments in utility resource plans and requires new generation/storage projects focused on clean energy, advancing renewable infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Utility Regulation

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026

HB 1443: Retail Supply of Electricity and Gas - Regulation and Consumer Protection - Alterations

HB 1443 modernizes Maryland's retail electricity and gas market rules. It repeals outdated provisions about energy salesperson licensing and green power marketing, while requiring the Public Service Commission to create an "Energy Choice Multimedia Program" to educate consumers about energy choices and climate commitments. Key changes include new requirements for energy suppliers to submit vendor lists to the Commission, updated license renewal processes, and added due process protections before license actions. The bill directly affects electricity/gas suppliers, energy vendors, and residential consumers through these regulatory updates.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRepeals outdated green power marketing restrictions and mandates climate-focused consumer education, advancing renewable energy adoption and consumer choice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Utility Regulation

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 928: Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity - Transmission Lines - Applicability and Waivers

HB 928 modifies Maryland's requirements for constructing transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It expands the types of transmission lines needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" (replacing the previous focus on overhead lines), and requires the Public Service Commission to consider ratepayer costs and environmental impacts when deciding whether to waive this requirement for certain projects. The bill also removes a prior rule that automatically waived certificate requirements for specific overhead lines. This directly affects electric companies, transmission developers, and the Public Service Commission in their approval processes for new or upgraded power lines.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires environmental impact consideration for transmission projects, aligning with clean energy infrastructure standards and ratepayer cost protections.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires environmental impact consideration in transmission line approvals, strengthening review process for projects affecting natural resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission Utility Regulation

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 683: Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Stations - Siting (Solar Siting and Preservation Credit Act of 2026)

This bill establishes a 5% acreage limit for solar energy projects in Maryland's certified "priority preservation areas" (agricultural lands). Counties can count solar projects on brownfields, school rooftops, or other underutilized land toward this 5% limit, allowing more development in these areas. It also restricts large solar projects (>5MW) from certain residential or growth zones and requires counties to report when the 5% cap is reached. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables solar development on brownfields/schools while restricting large projects in sensitive zones, promoting renewable energy infrastructure expansion within defined limits.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProtects agricultural land (priority preservation areas) while directing solar development to brownfields/schools, advancing clean energy without harming natural resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Conservation

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 824: Vehicle Laws - Licensing of Manufacturers and Distributors as Dealers - Requirements

SB 824 modifies Maryland’s vehicle licensing laws to allow electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and distributors to operate as dealers without needing a franchise from another company. It creates a specific pathway for EV manufacturers/distributors that only sell battery-electric or nonfossil-fuel vehicles, provided they have no existing dealers in Maryland, are not affiliated with other manufacturers that have franchised dealers, and meet ownership requirements. The bill limits this special licensing to no more than four entities and requires applicants to prove compliance with these conditions to the state administration. This directly affects EV-focused companies seeking to sell vehicles directly to consumers in Maryland.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables EV manufacturers to operate without franchise barriers, directly promoting electric vehicle adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables direct EV sales by manufacturers, promoting sustainable transportation through regulatory change for electric vehicles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1190: Public Utilities - Off-Grid Electricity Providers - Exemption

HB 1190 exempts new off-grid electricity providers (those starting operations on or after October 1, 2026) from most public utility regulations, including permits and rules under Maryland’s Public Utilities Article. However, these providers must still comply with specific construction requirements under Sections 7-207 and 7-207.1 when building generating facilities. The exemption ends if a provider later connects to the state grid, crosses state lines, or locates within/along roads or rights-of-way. This bill directly affects new off-grid energy operators, not existing providers or grid-connected utilities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts new off-grid electricity providers from utility regulations, reducing barriers for renewable energy development and infrastructure expansion.90% confidence

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