Maryland House Bill HB1329

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/25
• Refer: 2/7/25

Caption

Education - Public School Construction - Funding

Summary

HB1329 would revise Maryland public utilities law to expressly authorize natural-gas-fired energy generating systems to be constructed, permitted, and operated in the State, while still requiring compliance with existing certificate of public convenience and necessity or Commission approval requirements. The bill also expands the authority of investor-owned electric companies and electricity suppliers to build, acquire, lease, and operate their own generating facilities and the transmission facilities needed to connect those facilities to the electric system. The bill further narrows the Public Service Commission’s role by repealing language that allowed the Commission to permit or require certain utility-owned generation and transmission facilities under specified circumstances, and replacing it with a more direct authorization tied to long-term anticipated demand and cost recovery. In addition to these statutory changes, the bill states legislative support for additional nuclear energy development in Maryland, including small modular reactors and combinations of nuclear and natural gas generation, and urges PJM Interconnection to create an expedited interconnection process for new thermal generation resources.

Impact

HB1329 would amend the Public Utilities Article by adding a new section authorizing natural gas generation projects and revising Section 7-510(c)(6) to broaden utility self-build authority for generation and related transmission. It would affect investor-owned electric companies, electricity suppliers, project developers, and the Public Service Commission by shifting some decision-making from discretionary Commission permission toward explicit statutory authorization, while preserving existing permitting and approval requirements. The bill also signals state policy support for nuclear expansion and faster grid interconnection for thermal generation.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as an energy reliability and infrastructure expansion bill, with sponsors signaling support for dispatchable generation, natural gas, and nuclear power. The absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided material limits insight into formal opposition or support, but the bill’s language suggests a generally pro-development, pro-generation sentiment among its sponsors. The emphasis on reliability, clean energy, and expedited interconnection indicates an effort to present the bill as a pragmatic response to electricity demand and grid constraints.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to center on fossil-fuel expansion, the role of the Public Service Commission, and utility ownership of generation assets. Supporters would likely favor the bill for improving reliability, enabling new generation, and reducing barriers to construction and interconnection, while critics may object to expanding natural gas infrastructure, weakening regulatory discretion, or increasing utility control over generation and transmission. The bill’s support for nuclear energy and small modular reactors may also draw debate over cost, safety, siting, and long-term feasibility.