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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="7-219" title_number="7" title_name="Gas, Electric, and Water Companies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Electric Generation Facility Planning">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Energy storage device” has the meaning stated in § 7–216 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Local jurisdiction” includes counties, municipal corporations, and other forms of local government.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A person may not begin construction of a front–of–the–meter energy storage device unless the construction has been approved by the Commission in accordance with regulations adopted under this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>On receipt of an application for approval of the construction of a front–of–the–meter energy storage device under this section, the Commission shall provide immediate notice or require the applicant to provide immediate notice of the application to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the governing body of each county or municipal corporation in which any portion of the energy storage device is proposed to be constructed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the governing body of each county or municipal corporation within 1 mile of the proposed location of the energy storage device;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>each member of the General Assembly representing any part of a county in which any portion of the energy storage device is proposed to be constructed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>each member of the General Assembly representing any part of a county within 1 mile of the proposed location of the energy storage device; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>the affected communities that are within 1 mile of the proposed location of the energy storage device.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>When reviewing an application for approval under this section, the Commission shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>if the proposed location of the front–of–the–meter energy storage device is in an area considered to be overburdened and underserved, as defined in § 1–701 of the Environment Article, require the applicant to hold at least two public meetings in the community where the energy storage device is to be located; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>exempt a front–of–the–meter energy storage device that is located within the boundaries of an existing electricity generating station from the meeting requirements of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An owner of a proposed front–of–the–meter energy storage device that will not be constructed at a commercial or industrial location:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>shall provide nonbarbed wire fencing:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>around the energy storage device; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>that is not more than 20 feet in height; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>may use barbed wire fencing around the substations or other critical infrastructure for protection of that infrastructure; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>shall provide for a landscaping buffer or vegetative screening if required by the local jurisdiction.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A local jurisdiction may not require the use of a berm for a front–of–the–meter energy storage device approved under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The buffer required in paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be not more than 25 feet in depth; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>provide for four–season visual screening of the front–of–the–meter energy storage device.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>With respect to the site on which a front–of–the–meter energy storage device is proposed for construction, the owner of the energy storage device:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>shall minimize grading to the maximum extent possible;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may not remove topsoil from the parcel, but may move or temporarily stockpile topsoil for grading; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>may not use herbicides except to control invasive species in compliance with the Department of Agriculture’s weed control program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A local jurisdiction may not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>adopt zoning laws or other laws or regulations that prohibit the construction or operation of front–of–the–meter energy storage devices; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>deny site development plans for front–of–the–meter energy storage devices that meet the requirements of subsection (e) of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A local jurisdiction shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>expedite the review and approval of site development plans for front–of–the–meter energy storage devices if those plans meet the requirements of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>adopt standard processes for the review and approval of site development plans for the construction of front–of–the–meter energy storage devices.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Commission may waive or modify the requirements under subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section for good cause.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Commission shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
