3358

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 720

Article - Natural Resources

Section 3-305(a), (b), and (d)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1983 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

3-305.

(a) The expertise of the electric utilities in the basic
requirements, including environmental considerations, of a site
for power generation and generator lead route is a needed element
in site selection. Therefore, for the purposes of insuring
adequate power on reasonable schedules while also protecting the
quality of the State's environment, site acquisition and
generator lead route designation may occur as follows:

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subtitle, any site either already owned or purchased in the
future by electric companies shall be included in the inventory
of possible and proposed sites.

(2)  The Secretary, on the advice of the Secretary of
Economic and Community Development, shall acquire in the name of
the State a sufficient number of sites to satisfy the expected
requirements as submitted by the Secretary of State Planning, as
provided in § 3-304(4) of this subtitle. Site selection shall be
based on existing research findings that show the site is
desirable for power plant construction. Following site
acquisition, the Secretary and the local governing bodies of the
areas through which the potential generator lead routes pass
shall designate mutually one or more desirable routes. After
designation of a route, each county within which the route is
located shall designate the proposed public utility corridor by
enactment of an ordinance or by incorporation in its appropriate
land use plan. Any investigation to ascertain the suitability of
a site for the construction of an electric generating station
shall be completed within 2 years of the date the site has been
identified. By the end of the 2 year period, the Secretary shall
purchase or remove from consideration the site and make public
his decision.

(3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subtitle, the Secretary shall not acquire any site for an
electric company whose peak demand within the State is less than
1000 MW until the Public Service Commission requests the
Secretary to purchase a site under Article 78, § 54B(e) of the
Code.