Ch. 311                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

(a) It is hereby found and declared by the General Assembly
that:

(1)  It is necessary and appropriate that Maryland
promote and assist the nation's effort to improve our balance of
payments, to reduce the threat of economic disruption from
petroleum supply interruptions, and to increase the nation's
security by reducing its dependence upon imported petroleum;

(2)  Energy conservation and the increased use of
energy produced from Maryland resources can reduce the flow of
capital out of Maryland for energy imports, and can increase the
financial resources which remain within the State to support jobs
and economic activity within the Maryland economy;

(3)  Reducing the State's consumption of energy can
lessen the adverse economic impacts on its citizens caused by
rising energy prices, can reduce the consumption of depletable
resources which have other beneficial uses, and can reduce
adverse environmental impacts from the utilization of energy
sources;

(4)  For the benefit of the people of the State of
Maryland and in the interest of improving their commerce,
welfare, and prosperity, it is necessary and appropriate for the
State of Maryland to maintain or institute all reasonable
measures to increase the supply of energy and to reduce the
demand for energy;

(5)  Financing through conventional, private sources
is not available on terms and conditions that provide adequate
incentives for promoting urgently needed investment in energy
projects;

(6)  The provision of adequate supplies of energy to
the citizens of Maryland can be enhanced by the establishment of
programs of financial assistance as incentives to promote energy
conservation and the development of additional sources of energy
supply;

(7)  The federal government has enacted legislation,
in particular the Energy Security Act, P.L. 96-294; which
establishes substantial programs for providing financial
assistance, through such means as loans, loan guarantees, and
grants, for energy conservation and the development of energy
sources including coal, biomass, municipal solid waste, solar
energy, hydropower, and geothermal energy.

(b) The General Assembly therefore declares that the public
interest is served by establishing and carrying out programs
providing various forms of financial assistance as incentives for
energy projects which take maximum advantage of the energy
financing programs established under federal initiatives.

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