Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Waste–to–Energy

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1572*

HOUSE BILL 1572
M5, C5 6lr3373

By: Delegate Ghrist
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Waste–to–Energy 2

FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “Tier 1 renewable source” for purposes of 3
including energy derived from waste as an energy source eligible for inclusion in the 4
renewable energy portfolio standard; and generally relating to the renewable energy 5
portfolio standard. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Public Utilities 8
Section 7–701(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Public Utilities 13
Section 7–701(s) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16

BY adding to 17
Article – Public Utilities 18
Section 7–701(u) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23

Article – Public Utilities 24

7–701. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 1572

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

(s) “Tier 1 renewable source” means one or more of the following types of energy 2
sources: 3

(1) solar energy, including energy from photovoltaic technologies and solar 4
water heating systems; 5

(2) wind; 6

(3) qualifying biomass; 7

(4) methane from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials in a 8
landfill or wastewater treatment plant; 9

(5) geothermal, including energy generated through geothermal exchange 10
from or thermal energy avoided by, groundwater or a shallow ground source; 11

(6) ocean, including energy from waves, tides, currents, and thermal 12
differences; 13

(7) a fuel cell that produces electricity from a Tier 1 renewable source 14
under item (3) or (4) of this subsection; 15

(8) a small hydroelectric power plant of less than 30 megawatts in capacity 16
that is licensed or exempt from licensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; 17

(9) poultry litter–to–energy; 18

(10) WASTE–TO–ENERGY; 19

(11) thermal energy from a thermal biomass system; and 20

[(11)] (12) raw or treated wastewater used as a heat source or sink for a 21
heating or cooling system. 22

(U) “WASTE–TO–ENERGY” MEANS ENERGY GENERATED FROM A FACILITY A 23
THAT: 24

(1) DOES NOT USE COMBUSTION; 25

(2) IS CAPABLE OF GENERATING ENERGY ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS TO 26
MEET BASE LOAD; 27

(3) USES A CARBON–RECOVERY SYSTEM; 28
HOUSE BILL 1572 3

(4) DOES NOT PRODUCE BYPRODUCTS THAT REQUIRE LAND 1
APPLICATION OR LANDFILL DISPOSAL; 2

(5) HAS A MINIMUM WASTE–TO–ENERGY CONVERSION RATIO OF 80%; 3
AND 4

(6) MEETS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S INTERIM 5
GUIDANCE ON THE DESTRUCTION AND DISPOSAL OF PERFLUOROALKYL AND 6
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND MATERIALS CONTAINING 7
PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES – VERSION 2 (2024). 8

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That a presently existing obligation 9
or contract right may not be impaired in any way by this Act. 10

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to all 11
renewable energy portfolio standard compliance years starting on or after January 1, 2026. 12

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
October 1, 2026. 14