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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="2-1303.2" title_number="2" title_name="Ambient Air Quality Control" subtitle_number="13" subtitle_name="Maryland Commission on Climate Change">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Working Group” means the Energy Industry Revitalization Working Group of the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commission shall establish an Energy Industry Revitalization Working Group.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Working Group shall include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>One representative of the National Federation of Independent Business, selected by the State director of the National Federation of Independent Business;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>One representative of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, selected by the President and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>One representative of the Maryland Small Business Development Center, selected by the regional directors of the Maryland Small Business Development Center; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Six representatives of the energy industry, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Two representatives selected by the Secretary;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Two representatives selected by the Public Service Commission; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Two representatives selected by the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary shall designate the chair of the Working Group.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Department shall provide staff for the Working Group.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A member of the Working Group:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>May not receive compensation as a member of the Working Group; but</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Working Group shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Advise the Commission on issues and opportunities related to small business revitalization and the transition to renewable energy’s effects on small businesses;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Conduct a study of the impacts of transitioning to renewable energy; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Include in the study:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The number of small businesses impacted by the transition to renewable energy;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The projected cost of transitioning existing small businesses to renewable energy;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The economic impact of the transition to renewable energy and new energy sources, including supply chain impacts;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>An analysis that identifies energy generating facilities that may close as a result of a transition to renewable energy, including issues and opportunities related to repurposing the sites; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>An analysis that identifies or estimates, to the extent practicable:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The timing and location of facility closures and layoffs in nonrenewable energy industries;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The impact of facility closures and layoffs on affected workers, businesses, and communities; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>How the Commission can most effectively respond to the impact of facility closures and layoffs, including the potential to:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Compensate businesses that closed due to the effects of the transition to renewable energy; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Incentivize businesses to transition to renewable energy through subsidies.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>On or before December 31, 2023, the Working Group shall report to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the findings of the study required under subsection (g) of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
