2568                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 878

parks, forests and beaches, fish and wildlife refuges and
other public recreational uses as authorized within this
article. The Secretary may not hold, at any one time, [less
than four nor] more than eight sites, suitable for either
single or multiple power plant siting. [However, a site
shall be acquired by July 1, 1974, reasonably suitable for
each electric company generating more than 1000 MW of
Electric power and at least one such site reasonably
suitable for such electric company shall be held

subsequently as a minimum inventory.] HOWEVER, THE

SECRETARY SHALL ACQUIRE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AT LEAST
ONE SUITABLE SITE FOR EACH ELECTRIC COMPANY HAVING A PEAK
DEMAND WITHIN THE STATE OF MORE THAN 1000 MS.

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

54B.

(E) FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES WHOSE PEAK DEMAND
WITHIN THE STATE IS LESS THAN 1000MW, THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION SHALL REQUEST THE SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

TO PURCHASE A POWER PLANT SITE AS PROVIDED IN SUBTITLE 3 OF

THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE UPON A PETITION BY THE
SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES OR THE SECRETARY AND THE
SECRETARY OF STATE PLANNING AND A FINDING BY THE PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION THAT SUCH A SITE IS NEEDED.

(1) THE FINDING OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION SHALL BE MADE ONLY AFTER PUBLIC NOTICE AND
HEARING. SAID HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT IN WHICH THE SITE OR SITES UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE
LOCATED.

(2)        IN DETERMINING WHETHER THESE EXISTS A NEED

FOR THE STATE TO PURCHASE A POWER PLANT SITE, THE PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER THE SUITABILITY OF SITES

OWNED BY THE UTILITY, WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE STATE, THE

ANTICIPATED GROWTH OF ELECTRIC POWER DEMAND AND THE
ALTERNATIVE MEANS AND LOCATIONS FOR MEETING THAT DEMAND.
WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE STATE, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER
FACTORS AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 29, 1978.

CHAPTER 879
(House Bill 43 8)
AN ACT concerning

Maryland Small Business Development