ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 488

(4)      METHANE FROM THE ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC
MATERIALS IN A LANDFILL OR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT;

(5)      GEOTHERMAL;

(6)      OCEAN, INCLUDING ENERGY FROM WAVES, TIDES, CURRENTS, AND
THERMAL DIFFERENCES; AN©

(7)      A FUEL CELL THAT PRODUCES ELECTRICITY FROM A TIER 1
RENEWABLE SOURCE UNDER ITEM (3) OR (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION; AND

(8) A SMALL HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT OF LESS THAN 30
MEGAWATTS IN CAPACITY THAT IS LICENSED OR EXEMPT FROM LICENSING BY THE
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION.

(J) (L) (M) "TIER 2 RENEWABLE SOURCE" MEANS ONE OR MORE OF THE
FOLLOWING TYPES OF ENERGY SOURCES:

(1)      HYDROELECTRIC POWER OTHER THAN PUMP STORAGE
GENERATION;

(2)      THERMAL DECOMPOSITION INCINERATION OF POULTRY LITTER IF
THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AND THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE DETERMINE THAT THERE IS A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF POULTRY
LITTER AVAILABLE FOR THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ANY EXISTING AND
OPERATING ENTITY THAT IS SITED ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA AND THAT, AS OF
JULY 1, 2004, PROCESSES AND PASTEURIZES CHICKEN LITTER AS FERTILIZER; AND

(2) (3) WASTE-TO-ENERGY.

7-702.

(A)     IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO:

(1)      RECOGNIZE THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, FUEL DIVERSITY,
AND SECURITY BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES;

(2)      ESTABLISH A MARKET FOR ELECTRICITY FROM THESE RESOURCES
IN MARYLAND; AND

(3)      LOWER THE COST TO CONSUMERS OF ELECTRICITY PRODUCED
FROM THESE RESOURCES.

(B)     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)      THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCES, INCLUDING LONG-TERM DECREASED EMISSIONS, A HEALTHIER
ENVIRONMENT, INCREASED ENERGY SECURITY, AND DECREASED RELIANCE ON AND
VULNERABILITY FROM IMPORTED ENERGY SOURCES, ACCRUE TO THE PUBLIC AT
LARGE; AND

(2)      ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS AND CONSUMERS SHARE AN OBLIGATION
TO DEVELOP A MINIMUM LEVEL OF THESE RESOURCES IN THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
PORTFOLIO OF THE STATE.

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