Bill > SB516

This bill, the Clean Energy Jobs Act: - Requires the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account to receive money from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide investment capital and loans to small, minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in the clean energy industry in Maryland. - Establishes the Clean Energy Workforce Account to provide grants for pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship programs to establish career paths in the clean energy industry. This includes funding for apprenticeship sponsors and career and technical education schools. - Sets new, higher renewable energy portfolio standards for Maryland, requiring 50% of the state's electricity to come from Tier 1 renewable sources like solar and offshore wind by 2030. It also increases the solar energy requirement to 14.5% by 2030. - Approves at least 1,200 megawatts of new "Round 2" offshore wind projects off the Maryland coast, which must meet certain community benefit and local workforce requirements. - Requires the Power Plant Research Program to conduct additional studies on the renewable energy portfolio standard, including a supplemental study on the feasibility of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Government Affairs

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0516?ys=2019rs