SB 783

Public Utilities - Solar Energy Systems and Programs, Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund, and Prevailing Wage (Brighter Tomorrow Act)

Sponsor: Senator ElfrethCommittee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 595 (as of Nov 13, 2024)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring that certain home improvement contracts for the installation of a solar energy generating system on the roof of a building include the installation of a certain wildlife barrier under certain circumstances; requiring a county or municipality to implement certain software for features supporting the tracking and approval of residential building permits for residential solar energy and energy storage systems and main electric panel urgrades and derates on or before August 1, 2025, except under certain circumstances; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (47)

MGA witness list

FAV 31FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 5Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dutta, Robin	Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Van Grack, Adam	City of Rockville	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Held, Karl	Climate Coalition Montgomery County	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGilvray, Laurie	Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coggeshall, Charlie	Coalition for Community Solar Access	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stewart, Frances	Elders Climate Action Maryland	Position only
FAV	Buchanan, Kellylobbyist	Lightstar Renewables	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Tulkin, Joshlobbyist	MD Sierra Club	Oral
FAV	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harbeson, Kristenlobbyist	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Position only
FAV	Scarr, Emilylobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Position only
FAV	Ballentine, Tom	NAIOP Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Weidemann, Carl	Revolution Solar, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elaine, Arndt	SELF	Position only
FAV	Niphakis, Ally	SRECTrade, Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Meredith, Leah	Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	King, Kristin	TRADEPOINT ATLANTIC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Egan, Ashleylobbyist	UULM-MD	Position only
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Cohn, Debbie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elfreth, Sarah	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Farrell, Chelsea	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feldmark, Joshualobbyist	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hance, Rosalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kerr, Cait	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Elfreth, Senator Elfrethlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Weintraub, Jasonlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Watts, Cyndy	Caroline County Commissioners Office	Written (PDF)
UNF	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Kinnally, Kevin	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Vaughan, Evanlobbyist	Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)	Oral
UNF	Volpe, Michael	OPEN ROAD RENEWABLES, LLC	Oral
UNF	Cyphers, Moiralobbyist	The American Clean Power Association	Oral
FWA	Gramp, Kathleen	Advocates for Herring Bay	Written (PDF)
FWA	Heller, Lynn	Climate Access Fund Corporation	Written (PDF)
FWA	McHale, Michael	IBEW Local 24	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Schwartz, Evie	Maryland Energy Administration	Written (PDF)
FWA	Fiore, Justin	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
INFO	Reed, Dytonialobbyist	BGE	Written (PDF)
INFO	O'Keeffe, Kevinlobbyist	Law Office of Kevin O'Keeffe	Written (PDF)
INFO	Sproul, Brett	Maryland Public Service Commission	Oral
INFO	Hoover, Frederick	Maryland PublicService Commission	Written (PDF)
INFO	Klase, Annelobbyist	Pepco/DPL	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Advocates for Herring BayFWA 1

BGEINFO 1

Caroline County Commissioners OfficeUNF 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

Chesapeake Solar and Storage AssociationFAV 1

City of RockvilleFAV 1

Climate Access Fund CorporationFWA 1

Climate Coalition Montgomery CountyFAV 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Coalition for Community Solar AccessFAV 1

Elders Climate Action MarylandFAV 1

IBEW Local 24FWA 1

Law Office of Kevin O'KeeffeINFO 1

Lightstar RenewablesFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)UNF 2

Maryland Department of TransportationFAV 1

Maryland Energy AdministrationFWA 1

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFWA 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 1

Maryland PIRGFAV 1

Maryland Public Service CommissionINFO 1

Maryland PublicService CommissionINFO 1

MD Sierra ClubFAV 1

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

NAIOP MarylandFAV 1

OPEN ROAD RENEWABLES, LLCUNF 1

Pepco/DPLINFO 1

Revolution Solar, LLCFAV 1

SELFFAV 1

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)FAV 1

SRECTrade, IncFAV 1

The American Clean Power AssociationUNF 1

TRADEPOINT ATLANTICFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVBuchanan, KellyLightstar RenewablesRegistered for: Lightstar Renewables

FAVTulkin, JoshMD Sierra ClubRegistered for: Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

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

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FAVScarr, EmilyMaryland PIRGRegistered for: Maryland PIRG Citizen Lobby

FAVEgan, AshleyUULM-MDRegistered for: UULM-MD

FAVFeldmark, JoshuaRegistered for: 38 Degrees North; Advanced Energy United; Alliance of Maryland Dental Plans; Allstate Insurance Company; America's Health Insurance Plans; American Council of Life Insurers…

FAVHance, RosaRegistered for: Enhanced Impact LLC; Potomac Riverkeeper Network; Sierra Club Maryland Chapter; Advanced Energy United; American Whitewater; Waterkeepers Chesapeake…

FAVWeintraub, JasonRegistered for: AFSCME Council 3; Albertsons Companies, Inc.; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; COPT Defense Properties; CVS Health; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield…

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

UNFCyphers, 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.