SB 983

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

Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (District 10)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Hearing 3/06 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 14FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gramp, Kathleen	Advocates for Herring Bay	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller, John	Chaberton Energy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dutta, Robin	Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coggeshall, Charlie	Coalition for Community Solar Access	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelly O'Neill, Kaitlinlobbyist	ECA Solar	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feighner, Liz	HoCo Climate Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Buchanan, Kellylobbyist	Lightstar Renewables	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hill, Sophialobbyist	Pivot 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	Hankins, Patti	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Brooks, Senator Brookslegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Porter, Larry	Caroline County Commissioners	Written (PDF)
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)
FWA	Brooks, Benjamin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cohn, Debbie	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Advocates for Herring BayFAV 1

Caroline County CommissionersUNF 1

Chaberton EnergyFAV 1

Chesapeake Solar and Storage AssociationFAV 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFWA 1

Coalition for Community Solar AccessFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

ECA SolarFAV 1

HoCo Climate ActionFAV 1

Lightstar RenewablesFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland PublicService CommissionFWA 1

Pivot 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