Bill > S2838

This bill aims to upgrade the electric grid and protect ratepayers in several key ways: It expands the energy efficiency standards that state agencies must consider to include energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption. It establishes a drought management task force to coordinate the state's response to drought conditions and allows the state to order water conservation measures. It creates an Office of Environmental Justice and Equity to implement environmental justice principles and track the benefits of clean energy programs for low and moderate income communities. It requires the state to establish a methodology for siting clean energy infrastructure and create standards for monitoring and data sharing on electric vehicle charging stations. It updates the definitions of "clean energy" and "clean energy research" to broaden the types of technologies covered. It creates a new intervenor support fund to provide grants to parties representing low-income, moderate-income, and environmental justice communities to participate in regulatory proceedings. It makes changes to the processes for siting and permitting large and small clean energy infrastructure projects. Overall, the bill aims to accelerate the deployment of clean energy, improve grid reliability and resilience, and ensure equitable access to the benefits of the clean energy transition.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2838