2023 Maryland Statutes › Environment › Title 2 - Ambient Air Quality Control › Subtitle 16 - Building Energy Performance Standards › Section 2-1603 - Building Energy Transition Implementation Task Force -- Members -- Chair -- Compensation -- Duties of Task Force. [Effective Until July 1, 2024]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2024 PER CHAPTER 38 OF 2022 //
(a)    There is a Building Energy Transition Implementation Task Force.
(b)    The Task Force consists of the following members:
(1)    The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee;
(2)    The Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the Secretary’s designee;
(3)    The Secretary of General Services, or the Secretary’s designee;
(4)    The Director of the Maryland Energy Administration, or the Director’s designee;
(5)    The Chair of the Public Service Commission, or the Chair’s designee;
(6)    The People’s Counsel, or the People’s Counsel’s designee;
(7)    The Executive Director of the Maryland Clean Energy Center, or the Executive Director’s designee;
(8)    The Chair of the Maryland Green Building Council, or the Chair’s designee;
(9)    One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(10)    One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and
(11)    The following members, appointed by the Governor:
(i)    One representative from a nonprofit or professional organization that advocates for energy–efficient buildings or a low–carbon–built environment;
(ii)    One representative from a business that provides energy efficiency or renewable energy services to large buildings or affordable housing in Maryland;
(iii)    One representative who is an architect with experience planning modifications to existing buildings to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions;
(iv)    One representative who is a mechanical, electrical, or plumbing engineer or commissioning agent with experience in modifying or replacing systems in order to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions;
(v)    One representative of the multifamily housing industry;
(vi)    One representative who is an affordable housing developer;
(vii)    One representative who is a facilities or property manager for an apartment building;
(viii)    One representative who is a facilities or property manager for a commercial building;
(ix)    One representative of a financial institution;
(x)    One representative of a private equity firm;
(xi)    One representative of the district energy industry;
(xii)    One representative of a statewide commercial or industrial building association;
(xiii)    One representative of organized labor who represents the building trades; and
(xiv)    One representative who is a tenant of an apartment building or an advocate for the rights of tenants of apartment buildings; and
(12)    The following members, selected by the Public Service Commission:
(i)    One representative of a municipal electric utility; and
(ii)    One representative of an investor–owned utility.
(c)    The Secretary shall designate the chair of the Task Force.
(d)    The Department shall provide staff for the Task Force.
(e)    A member of the Task Force:
(1)    May not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but
(2)    Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(f)    (1)    The Task Force shall:
(i)    Study and make recommendations regarding the development of complementary programs, policies, and incentives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector in accordance with this subtitle;
(ii)    Make recommendations on targeting incentives to electrification projects that would not otherwise result in strong returns on investment for building owners; and
(iii)    Develop a plan for funding the retrofit of covered buildings to comply with building emissions standards.
(2)    The plan developed under this subsection may include recommendations related to:
(i)    The creation of commercial tax credits or direct subsidy payments for building decarbonization projects;
(ii)    The creation of financial incentives through EmPOWER Maryland and other State programs to support all aspects of the transition to electrified buildings;
(iii)    The establishment of low–income household holistic retrofit targets and heat pump sales targets; and
(iv)    The use of options such as on–bill, low–interest financing to spread out the up–front costs associated with electrification retrofit upgrades.
(g)    On or before December 1, 2023, the Task Force shall report its plan to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.