Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025)
Summary
Senate Bill 10, the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025, narrows the set of energy sources that qualify as “Tier 1 renewable sources” under Maryland’s renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS). The bill removes waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel from the statutory list of eligible Tier 1 sources, while leaving the rest of the Tier 1 definition intact, including solar, wind, biomass, landfill methane, geothermal, ocean energy, fuel cells tied to certain renewable inputs, small hydroelectric, poultry litter-to-energy, thermal biomass, and wastewater heat/cooling systems.
The bill also updates the RPS eligibility rules to conform to the revised definition by striking references to the removed waste-derived categories in the provision governing which Tier 1 sources may be counted toward compliance. It preserves existing rules for solar renewable energy credits, wastewater-based eligibility, and hydroelectric and Tier 2 eligibility. The act applies to RPS compliance years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and takes effect October 1, 2025, while protecting existing contracts and obligations from impairment.
Impact
If enacted, SB10 would amend the Public Utilities Article provisions governing Maryland’s renewable energy portfolio standard by excluding electricity generated from waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel from qualifying as Tier 1 renewable energy. This would reduce the pool of resources that electricity suppliers and electric companies may use to satisfy RPS requirements, potentially affecting facilities that rely on those technologies and the market for renewable energy credits associated with them. The bill does not alter the overall structure of the RPS, but it changes which generation sources can be counted toward compliance starting with compliance years on or after January 1, 2025.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and text, the measure appears to reflect a policy preference for more strictly defined renewable energy sources and a desire to exclude waste-incineration-related technologies from renewable classification. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess. The available context suggests the bill is framed as a corrective or reclassification measure rather than a broad expansion of renewable energy policy.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel should continue to qualify as renewable resources for RPS compliance. Supporters of the bill would likely argue that these sources are not truly renewable and should not receive the same treatment as solar, wind, or other clean energy technologies. Opponents may argue that excluding them could disrupt existing investments, reduce compliance flexibility, and affect facilities and contracts already built around current law. The bill addresses some of that concern by stating that existing obligations and contract rights may not be impaired.