HB 1328

Solar Energy and Energy Storage - Development and State Procurement

Sponsor: Natalie Ziegler (District 9A)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Hearing 2/29 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (as of Nov 13, 2024)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing a county to enact a local law creating a conservation and restoration fund for a certain purpose; establishing the Utility-Scale Solar Design and Siting Commission in the Power Plant Research Program to provide recommendations related to solar energy development and land conservation and preservation; requiring the owner or operator of a certain solar energy generating station to plant and maintain a certain cover crop on certain land and submit a certain vegetation management plan to a certain entity; etc.

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Testimony (34)

MGA witness list

FAV 9FavorableFWA 10Favorable with amendmentsUNF 4UnfavorableINFO 11Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Watts, Cyndy	Caroline County Commissioners Office	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harbeson, Kristenlobbyist	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Fiore, Justin	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coale, Tomlobbyist	PWRJ	Oral
FAV	Cohn, Debbie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Ziegler, Delegate Zieglerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Kerr, Cait	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziegler, Natalie	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jackson, Marcuslobbyist	Associated Builders and Contractors	Written (PDF)
UNF	Mayhew, Kim	Perry White Ross & Jacobson	Written (PDF)
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Raine, James	Individual	Position only
FWA	Gramp, Kathleen	Advocates for Herring Bay	Written (PDF)
FWA	Villasenor, Ernestolobbyist	CCAN	Written (PDF)
FWA	Miller, John	Chaberton Energy	Written (PDF)
FWA	Dutta, Robin	Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Coggeshall, Charlie	Coalition for Community Solar Access	Written (PDF)
FWA	Sanderson, Michael	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Hough, Tylerlobbyist	Maryland Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FWA	Vaughan, Evanlobbyist	Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Meredith, Leah	Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cyphers, Moiralobbyist	The American Clean Power Association	Oral
INFO	Reed, Dytonialobbyist	BGE	Written (PDF)
INFO	Nissley, Lisa	DGS	Written (PDF)
INFO	O'Keeffe, Kevinlobbyist	Law Office of Kevin O'Keeffe	Written (PDF)
INFO	Jones, Rachel	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Behler, Dylan	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
INFO	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
INFO	Fahrig, Landon	Maryland Energy Administration	Written (PDF)
INFO	Hoover, Frederick	Maryland PublicService Commission	Written (PDF)
INFO	Klase, Annelobbyist	Pepco/DPL	Written (PDF)
INFO	D'Arcy, Megan	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Advocates for Herring BayFWA 1

Associated Builders and ContractorsUNF 1

BGEINFO 1

Caroline County Commissioners OfficeFAV 1

CCANFWA 1

Chaberton EnergyFWA 1

Chesapeake Solar and Storage AssociationFWA 1

Coalition for Community Solar AccessFWA 1

DGSINFO 1

Law Office of Kevin O'KeeffeINFO 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland Department of AgricultureINFO 1

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesINFO 1

Maryland Department of TransportationINFO 1

Maryland Energy AdministrationINFO 1

Maryland Farm BureauFWA 1

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 1

Maryland PublicService CommissionINFO 1

Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)FWA 1

Pepco/DPLINFO 1

Perry White Ross & JacobsonUNF 1

PWRJFAV 1

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)FWA 1

The American Clean Power AssociationFWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVHarbeson, KristenMaryland League of Conservation VotersRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters

FAVCoale, TomPWRJRegistered for: Advantage Capital; Authorium; Baltimore Orioles; CI Renewables; City of Annapolis; Ecphora Capital…

FAVThompson, LindsayRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…

UNFJackson, MarcusAssociated Builders and ContractorsRegistered for: Associated Builders & Contractors

FWAVillasenor, ErnestoCCANRegistered for: Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund

FWAHough, TylerMaryland Farm BureauRegistered for: Maryland Farm Bureau

FWAVaughan, EvanMid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)Registered for: Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition Action (MAREC Action)

FWACyphers, MoiraThe American Clean Power AssociationRegistered for: American Clean Power; American Clean Power Association (ACP)

INFOReed, DytoniaBGERegistered for: Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

INFOO'Keeffe, KevinLaw Office of Kevin O'KeeffeRegistered for: Eva Group LLC; IEC Chesapeake; PepsiCo; W.W. Grainger, Inc.…

INFOKlase, AnnePepco/DPLRegistered for: Pepco Holdings, LLC.; Pepco Holdings, Inc.