Maryland § 7-1208

§ 7-1208.

    (a)    (1)    Within 45 days after the closing date for the solicitation period set in accordance with § 7–1206 of this subtitle or sooner as determined by the Commission, the Power Plant Research Program shall recommend to the Commission proposals to be authorized to utilize the expedited certificate of public convenience and necessity process under § 7–207.4 of this title.

        (2)    The Power Plant Research Program shall base its recommendations on the information in the proposals received and the specifications listed in §§ 7–1207 and 7–1209 of this subtitle.

    (b)    Subject to subsection (c) of this section and after considering the recommendations of the Power Plant Research Program made under subsection (a) of this section, unless the Commission grants a request for an extension for good cause, not later than 60 days after the close of the solicitation period the Commission shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny a proposal submitted in response to a solicitation issued under § 7–1206 of this subtitle.

    (c)    In addition to the criteria specified in § 7–1207 of this subtitle, the Commission shall determine which proposals to approve based on the factors and requirements specified in § 7–1209 of this subtitle.

    (d)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the combined total capacity of dispatchable energy generation projects and large capacity energy resource projects approved under this section shall be greater than the combined summer peak capacity profile of coal and oil energy generating stations in the State as outlined under Table 9 of the Commission’s Ten–Year Plan (2024–2033) of Electric Companies in Maryland.

        (2)    The combined total capacity of natural gas dispatchable energy generation projects and large capacity energy resource projects approved under this section may not exceed the combined summer peak capacity profile of coal and oil energy generating stations in the State as outlined under Table 9 of the Commission’s Ten–Year Plan (2024–2033) of Electric Companies in Maryland.

    (e)    Every 5 years after the date that a natural gas dispatchable energy generation project or large capacity energy resource project becomes operational under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under § 7–207.4 of this title, the owner or operator of the natural gas dispatchable energy generation or large capacity energy resource shall submit to the Commission a report regarding the feasibility of converting the natural gas dispatchable energy generation or large capacity energy resource to the use of only hydrogen or zero–emissions biofuel.

    (f)    An approval or conditional approval of a project under this section does not guarantee that the project will be issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity under § 7–207 or § 7–207.4 of this title.