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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="7-709.1" title_number="7" title_name="Gas, Electric, and Water Companies" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Brownfield” has the meaning stated in § 7–207 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Certified SREC” means a solar renewable energy credit generated by a certified system.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Certified system” means a solar energy generating system certified by the Commission under the Program to generate certified SRECs with the compliance value specified in subsection (c) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Program” means the Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commission shall establish a Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Under the Program, a certified system shall generate certified SRECs.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the provisions of this subtitle relating to renewable energy credits shall apply to certified SRECs.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A certified SREC shall have a compliance value of 150% for electricity suppliers to put toward meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard for energy derived from solar energy under § 7–703 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>To be eligible for certification under the Program, a solar energy generating system shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>be located in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>be eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>have a generating capacity of 5 megawatts or less, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>be placed in service between July 1, 2024, and January 1, 2028, inclusive; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>be one of the following types of systems:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a system with a generating capacity of 20 kilowatts or less, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a system with a generating capacity of 2 megawatts or less, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter, if the system is used for aggregate net metering; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a system with a generating capacity of between 20 kilowatts and 5 megawatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter, if the system is located on or over:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a rooftop;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a parking canopy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a brownfield; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>a water retention pond or quarry currently or previously designated for industrial use.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the Commission, at the time of certifying a solar energy generating system as a Tier 1 renewable source, shall certify the system as eligible to generate certified SRECs in accordance with subsection (c) of this section if the applicant submits with its application for certification as a Tier 1 renewable source:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a form requesting to be certified to receive certified SRECs with the value specified in subsection (c) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a copy of the interconnection agreement between the applicant and the applicant’s electric company indicating that the size of the system is eligible;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>if seeking certification as a system located on or over an area specified under subsection (d)(5)(iii) of this section, a copy of the final approval of the local building permit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>if seeking certification as a system located on a brownfield, documentation demonstrating that the system is located on a brownfield;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>if seeking certification based on aggregated net metering, a copy of the aggregated net energy metering rider submitted with the interconnection agreement; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>any other information required by the Commission.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The owner of a solar energy generating system may apply to the Commission to be certified under the Program if the system meets the requirements under subsection (d) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The owner of a solar energy generating system that is placed in service between July 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, may apply to the Commission:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>before January 1, 2025, for certification as a Tier 1 renewable source; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>on or after January 1, 2025, for certification under the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The total amount of in–State generating capacity for certified systems, as measured by the alternating current rating of the systems’ inverters, under the Program may not exceed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>300 megawatts for systems with a generating capacity of less than 20 kilowatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>270 megawatts for systems with a generating capacity of between 20 kilowatts and 5 megawatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At the time a solar energy generating system is certified as a Tier 1 renewable source, the owner of the system shall pay to the Commission a one–time fee of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>up to $50 for each system with a generating capacity of less than 20 kilowatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>up to $200 for each system with a generating capacity of more than 20 kilowatts, as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall use the fees collected under paragraph (1) of this subsection to pay for costs associated with administering the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A certified system shall continue to be eligible to generate certified SRECs for 15 years after the date of certification by the Commission, or January 1, 2025, whichever is later, after which the system shall be eligible to generate noncertified solar renewable energy credits as long as the system meets the requirements as a Tier 1 renewable source under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>on or before January 1, 2025, begin determining eligibility of solar energy generating systems to be certified under the Program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>on or before July 1, 2026, implement a revised system to review and ensure compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standard.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An electricity supplier may apply the certified SRECs generated in accordance with this section toward the renewable energy portfolio standard starting with the 2025 compliance year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other law, the Commission shall allow electricity suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standard for the 2025 compliance year by submitting information between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, using the revised system developed in accordance with paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
