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HB 827

Solar Energy - Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lorig Charkoudian and 2 co-sponsors

HB 827 removes solar permitting barriers and creates a workgroup to standardize ground-mounted and small solar siting rules across Maryland.

Hearing 3/13 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 827

Legislative bill overview

HB 827 would streamline Maryland's regulatory process for distributed solar generation by eliminating or modifying the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) requirement for certain solar projects. The bill also establishes a workgroup to develop siting standards and best practices for ground-mounted and small-scale solar installations across the state.

Why is this important

Solar deployment has been hampered by lengthy regulatory approval processes in Maryland, making projects more expensive and slower to develop. Streamlining these requirements could accelerate clean energy adoption while the workgroup could prevent inconsistent local zoning decisions that currently create barriers to solar development.

Potential points of contention

  • Utility concerns: Eliminating CPCN requirements reduces utilities' ability to evaluate grid reliability and cost impacts of distributed generation before projects are built
  • Local control vs. state standardization: Communities may resist state-level siting standards as an intrusion on local zoning authority, or conversely, may want stronger state requirements to prevent inconsistent treatment
  • Cost-shifting questions: Removing regulatory oversight could shift infrastructure upgrade costs or grid management expenses away from developers onto ratepayers

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

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