Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Waste–to–Energy
Summary
HB1572 would expand Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) by adding a new Tier 1 eligible source: “waste-to-energy.” The bill defines waste-to-energy narrowly as energy from a facility that does not use combustion, can generate energy continuously to meet baseload demand, uses a carbon-recovery system, does not create byproducts requiring land application or landfill disposal, achieves at least an 80% waste-to-energy conversion ratio, and complies with EPA interim guidance on destruction and disposal of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials.
The bill also makes this new source eligible for RPS compliance beginning with compliance years starting on or after January 1, 2026, while preserving existing obligations and contract rights. In practical terms, it would amend the Public Utilities Article to broaden the set of renewable energy credits that utilities and other obligated parties may use to meet state renewable energy requirements, potentially affecting project eligibility, credit markets, and compliance planning.
Impact
HB1572 would amend Section 7-701 of the Public Utilities Article to add waste-to-energy to the list of Tier 1 renewable sources under Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. This would affect utilities, renewable energy generators, and RPS compliance entities by allowing qualifying waste-to-energy facilities to generate Tier 1 renewable energy credits for compliance years beginning January 1, 2026. The bill is structured to avoid impairing existing contracts or obligations, and it would take effect October 1, 2026.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and assigned to the House Environment and Transportation Committee, with a hearing scheduled, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s language, the measure appears to be framed as a technical expansion of eligible renewable sources rather than a broad policy overhaul. Because no discussion or vote history is included, the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly from the record, though the proposal likely reflects support from proponents of alternative waste management and low-carbon energy technologies.
Contention
The main points of contention likely center on whether waste-to-energy should be treated as a renewable resource for RPS purposes and whether the bill’s definition is sufficiently strict. Potential critics may question environmental impacts, the exclusion of combustion-based facilities, the handling of PFAS and other waste byproducts, and whether the technology should qualify alongside solar, wind, and other established Tier 1 sources. Supporters would likely emphasize the bill’s narrow eligibility criteria, continuous baseload capability, carbon recovery requirements, and waste diversion benefits.