HB 827

Solar Energy - Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup

Sponsor: Luke Clippinger (District 46)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Hearing 3/13 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing a distributed generation certificate of public convenience and necessity to authorize the construction and operation of a certain distributed solar energy generating system; requiring the Power Plant Research Program, by July 1, 2026, to develop and submit to the Public Service Commission proposed siting and design requirements and licensing conditions; prohibiting a county from enacting certain zoning laws or adopting certain regulations regarding certain ground-mounted solar systems and facilities; etc.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 22FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gramp, Kathleen	Advocates for Herring Bay	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller, John	Chaberton Energy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Abcug, Jeremy	CleanCapital	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coggeshall, Charlie	Coalition for Community Solar Access	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Garagiola, Rob	Compass Advocacy	Oral
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelly O'Neill, Kaitlinlobbyist	ECA Solar	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wharton, Leslie	Elders Climate Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feighner, Liz	HoCo Climate Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Buchanan, Kellylobbyist	Lightstar Renewables	Written (PDF)
FAV	Woolston, Cara	Office of Delegate Clippinger	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hill, Sophialobbyist	Pivot Energy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Deal, Matthew	PureSky Energy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Meredith, Leah	Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Veazey, Liz	Solar United Neighbors Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murray, Davidlobbyist	TurningPoint Energy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Baylor, Frank	Individual	Position only
FAV	Cohn, Debbie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Clippinger, Delegate Clippingerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	teeter, jennifer	Individual	Position only
UNF	Porter, Larry	Caroline County Commissioners	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FWA	McGilvray, Laurie	Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FWA	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hoover, Frederick	Maryland PublicService Commission	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Advocates for Herring BayFAV 1

Caroline County CommissionersUNF 1

Chaberton EnergyFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

CleanCapitalFAV 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFWA 1

Coalition for Community Solar AccessFAV 1

Compass AdvocacyFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

ECA SolarFAV 1

Elders Climate ActionFAV 1

HoCo Climate ActionFAV 1

Lightstar RenewablesFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland PublicService CommissionFWA 1

Office of Delegate ClippingerFAV 1

Pivot EnergyFAV 1

PureSky EnergyFAV 1

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)FAV 1

Solar United Neighbors ActionFAV 1

TurningPoint EnergyFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVKelly O'Neill, KaitlinECA SolarRegistered for: ECA Solar

FAVBuchanan, KellyLightstar RenewablesRegistered for: Lightstar Renewables

FAVHill, SophiaPivot EnergyRegistered for: Pivot Energy LLC; Pivot Energy Inc.

FAVMurray, DavidTurningPoint EnergyRegistered for: TurningPoint Energy