Lawmakers gave final passage to a trio of energy reform bills focused on increasing the state’s power generation. The cornerstone bill of the package, the Next Generation Energy Act, began with a focus on increasing energy generation in the state, but became the vehicle for a number of provisions, including requiring utilities to justify spending on new natural gas pipelines and a state procurement process for new nuclear energy. Other packaged bills created uniform standards for solar energy projects and established a state office focused on energy planning.
Energy reliance: Maryland, which belongs to a regional grid comprising 13 states and Washington, D.C., already imports roughly 40 percent of its electricity from other states. Producing more, diversified energy here at home will benefit residents, businesses and the state’s economic standing overall.
