Legislation (2013 & 2015)

GCS Management Team and Volunteers have begun to realize that we may need further Maryland Legislation to advance our goals.

[This page has not been updated since 2015. Most of the links no longer work. Instead, please scroll to the PDF documents at the bottom]

Current Info from 2015 Legislative Session

SB0481: click here for a copy of the Senate bill, hearing on March 3

HB1087: click here for a copy of the House Bill, hearing on March 5

One page handout

Two page handout (from MDV-SEIA)

Information from 2014 Legislative Session

One page handout for the public (SB786/HB1192)

The information below is from the 2013 Legislative Session.

This past legislative session (Jan-April 2013), some of us worked with MD-SUN and the Sierra Club to advance SB-0699 (introduced by Paul Pinsky from our own District 22) and HB-1128 (introduced by Dana Stein in District 11).

The bill was entitled Electricity - Community Energy Generating Facilities – Pilot. This bill would have set up a 3 year pilot project that would allow construction of

small solar farms or other "generating facilities". Maryland residents would be able to purchase one or more panels in an array and then instruct their utility company to subtract the cost of the solar electricity generated against their monthly electric bill.

To follow this bill, SB0699 and HB1128, click here http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/ and type in bill number.

Here are a few handouts to educate yourself about the bill

Fact Sheet for Citizens

Fact Sheet for Legislators

Sign On Letter (with logos) - to use as a handout

Drop Sheet for Senators, March 13

Drop Sheet for Delegates, March 13

Text of Bill

GREAT NEWS! On March 11, the Greenbelt City Council voted to support these two bills. Here are their letters to Senator Pinsky and Delegates Healey, Gaines, and Washington.

Unfortunately, on March 26, the Senate Finance Committee voted to kill the bill. Here is the vote tally.

Ways to get involved:

* Join the MD-SUN list serv

* Join the Legislative Strategy Team, which meets monthly

* Volunteer to (a) make phone calls to Sierra Club members in key districts, (b) visit Annapolis and lobby their committee representatives, and (c) attend the hearings on March 5 and/or March 7, 2013 as an observer/supporter.