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SB 247

Relating to State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision hearings.

2025 Regular Session

MD SB 247 allows DHCD to issue loans, not just grants, for energy upgrades in covered multifamily buildings and counts savings from all funding toward EmPOWER GHG targets.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 247

SB 247 — Housing and Community Development — Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions: Issuance of Loans and Achievement of Targets (Maryland)

Status: Introduced Jan 8, 2025; effective date (bill): July 1, 2025. Cross-file: HB 155. Departmental bill (requested by DHCD).

Main purpose

Authorize the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to make loans in addition to grants for energy‑conservation and renewable‑energy projects in covered multifamily residential buildings (primarily serving low‑ and moderate‑income households), and broaden which funding sources DHCD may count when measuring achievement of greenhouse‑gas (GHG) reduction targets under the EmPOWER Maryland program.

Key provisions

  • Grants and loans: Amends DHCD’s GHG Reduction Program (established under the Climate Solutions Now Act) so DHCD may provide loans as well as grants for:
    • Energy conservation projects; and
    • Installation of renewable energy generating systems in “covered buildings.”
      Loans are intended to increase access for subsidized properties that cannot accept grants under existing financial rules.
  • Loan characteristics (DHCD guidance): typical terms are expected to include 0% interest, deferred repayments, and maturities commonly 15–40 years; DHCD expects many loans will not be repaid in practice (repayments that do occur remain with the program).
  • EmPOWER GHG accounting: When calculating whether DHCD meets required GHG reduction targets, DHCD may include savings achieved through all funding sources — provided the savings are:
    • Achieved in a manner consistent with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements; or
    • Otherwise consistent with the energy‑savings requirements applicable to those funding sources. This replaces a narrower rule that limited eligible savings to programs funded through the EmPOWER surcharge or DOE.
  • Existing statutory requirements remain: targets (for 2025–2033) require programs to be on trajectory to achieve at least 0.9% GHG reductions (relative to a 2016 baseline) after 2027; reporting and program design obligations remain.

Who is affected

  • DHCD: new authority to offer loans and broader options for claiming GHG savings.
  • Owners/operators of covered multifamily buildings (especially subsidized, low‑/moderate‑income housing): greater access to program financing via loans.
  • Electric utilities and ratepayers: by allowing non‑ratepayer funding to count toward EmPOWER targets, the bill may reduce the amount of ratepayer‑sourced EmPOWER funds DHCD would otherwise need.
  • Program beneficiaries: low‑ and moderate‑income households in covered buildings potentially benefit from more projects and financing flexibility.

Fiscal and policy impact

  • DHCD: authorizing loans is not expected to materially change State finances or DHCD operations through FY2030; DHCD can administer loans under current staffing and budget.
  • Ratepayer funds / special fund impacts: expanding eligible savings sources likely reduces the need for EmPOWER ratepayer surcharge revenues remitted to DHCD (potentially beginning FY2026). DHCD estimates about half of its EmPOWER funding historically comes from ratepayer funds; FY2026 budget context: ~$63.5 million in ratepayer funds. The magnitude of revenue and expenditure changes is not precisely quantified in the fiscal note.
  • Local governments / households: no material direct fiscal effect, but program access could increase energy upgrades in low‑income multifamily housing.

Effective date and implementation

  • Bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
  • DHCD continues to follow reporting obligations and to coordinate with the Public Service Commission and DOE standards when including savings from various funding sources.

For more detail: the bill amends DHCD program language to add “loans” alongside “grants” and revises Public Utilities (EmPOWER) language to allow inclusion of savings from all funding sources when those savings meet DOE or otherwise applicable energy‑savings standards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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