Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program - Eligibility and Generating Capacity

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0990*

HOUSE BILL 990
C5, M5 6lr2644
CF SB 669
By: Delegates Behler, Allen, Boyce, Guyton, Healey, Holmes, D. Jones, Lewis,
J. Long, T. Morgan, Odom, Stein, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program – Eligibility and 2
Generating Capacity 3

FOR the purpose of extending the deadline by which a solar energy generating system must 4
be placed in service to be eligible for certification under the Small Solar Energy 5
Generating System Incentive Program ; increasing the total amount of in –State 6
generating capacity for certain solar energy generating systems ; and generally 7
relating to the Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program. 8

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Public Utilities 10
Section 7–709.1(a) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Public Utilities 15
Section 7–709.1(d) and (g) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20

Article – Public Utilities 21

7–709.1. 22

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 23

2 HOUSE BILL 990

(2) “Brownfield” has the meaning stated in § 7–207 of this title. 1

(3) “Certified SREC” means a solar renewable energy credit generated by 2
a certified system. 3

(4) “Certified system” means a solar energy generating system certified by 4
the Commission under the Program to generate certified SRECs with the compliance value 5
specified in subsection (c) of this section. 6

(5) “Program” means the Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive 7
Program. 8

(d) To be eligible for certification under the Program, a solar energy generating 9
system shall: 10

(1) be located in the State; 11

(2) be eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio 12
standard; 13

(3) have a generating capacity of 5 megawatts or less, as measured by the 14
alternating current rating of the system’s inverter; 15

(4) be placed in service between July 1, 2024, and January 1, [2028] 2031, 16
inclusive; and 17

(5) be one of the following types of systems: 18

(i) a system with a generating capacity of 20 kilowatts or less, as 19
measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter; 20

(ii) a system with a generating capacity of 2 megawatts or less, as 21
measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter, if the system is used 22
for aggregate net metering; or 23

(iii) a system with a generating capacity of between 20 kilowatts and 24
5 megawatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter, if the 25
system is located on or over: 26

1. a rooftop; 27

2. a parking canopy; 28

3. a brownfield; or 29

4. a water retention p ond or quarry currently or previously 30
designated for industrial use. 31
HOUSE BILL 990 3

(g) The total amount of in –State generating capacity for certified systems, as 1
measured by the alternating current rating of the systems’ inverters, under the Program 2
may not exceed: 3

(1) 300 megawatts for systems with a generating capacity of less than 20 4
kilowatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter; and 5

(2) [270] 540 megawatts for systems with a generating capacity of between 6
20 kilowatts and 5 megawatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the 7
system’s inverter. 8

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10