Bill > HB1040

This bill mandates that the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund allocate at least $365,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to programs aimed at reducing the impact of climate change. * **Administration Programs:** $283,000,000 annually for various climate change reduction initiatives, including incentives for replacing inefficient appliances with electric alternatives ($100 million), solar energy deployment programs ($50 million), electric vehicle and charging equipment initiatives ($25 million), energy efficiency grants ($20 million), smart energy communities ($10 million), microgrids and resiliency hubs ($10 million), energy infrastructure ($10 million), residential and commercial clean energy rebates ($6 million), clean energy development capital projects ($2 million), and offshore wind programs ($1 million). * **Department of the Environment Programs:** $13,000,000 annually for clean energy technology support, communications, marketing, and climate change programs. * **State Department of Education Programs:** $45,000,000 annually to assist school districts in reducing carbon emissions from facilities and activities ($25 million) and for acquiring and implementing electric school buses ($20 million). * **Maryland Clean Energy Center:** $50,000,000 annually. * **Maryland Energy Innovation Institute:** $2,000,000 annually. * **Maryland Department of Labor:** $1,000,000 annually for a workforce development grant program. * **Department of General Services:** $5,000,000 annually for energy efficiency initiatives. The bill also modifies the allocation of proceeds from the sale of allowances and compliance fees, increasing the percentage directed to energy assistance and low/moderate-income efficiency programs. It also includes provisions for the use of compliance fees for solar development and legislative energy relief refunds. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.