Governor Wes Moore is scheduled to sign the Next Generation Energy Act and the Renewable Energy Certainty Act later today. 

Late yesterday, the Governor’s office released the final list of bills scheduled to be signed later today. Since Sine Die, one of the most closely watched questions has been how Governor Moore would handle the three most high-profile bills of the 2025 legislative session. Long-time readers will recall that this year’s session was dubbed the “Session of Energy,” with the General Assembly devoting significant time to a trio of hotly debated energy-related bills.

At the heart of the debate was a legislative package championed by the presiding officers and the chairs of the relevant committees. The package included the Next Generation Energy Act (HB0135/SB937), the Renewable Energy Certainty Act (HB1036/SB931), and the Energy Resources Adequacy and Planning Act (HB1037/SB909).

According to the Governor’s office, the Next Generation Energy Act and the Renewable Energy Certainty Act will be signed into law today. However, the Energy Resources Adequacy and Planning Act was vetoed earlier this month. In the Governor’s veto message, he cited both the cost of the legislation and its overlapping mission with existing efforts,

The fiscal impact of the legislation is signifigant. Establishing and operating the new office would cost between $4.4 million and $5.3 million annually starting in Fiscal Year 2026, totaling nearly $29 million over five years. . . . Furthermore, the objectives outlined in this legislation overlap significantly with exisitng efforts by agencies such as the Public Service Commission, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Power Plant Research Program.

Even for the two bills set to be signed, the story may be far from over. Both have sparked considerable controversy, and there is growing momentum behind a possible referendum effort—particularly targeting the Next Generation Energy Act, if not both measures.

Summary of the Energy Bills

• Next Generation Energy Act (HB0135/SB937)
  • This bill establishes or modifies various provisions of law affecting electricity generation, utility cost recovery, and large customer interconnections, among other related changes. The core of the legislation creates “dispatchable” energy sources and temporarily grants those sources expedited review and approval timelines.
• Renewable Energy Certainty Act (HB1036/SB931)
  • This bill establishes or modifies various provisions of law related to solar energy and energy storage, including creating a definitive siting and decommissioning standards for projects 2 megawatts (MW) and above, preempts county authority between 1MW and 2MW, and sets certain standards for the siting and decommissioning of battery storage.
• Energy Resources Adequacy and Planning Act (HB1037/SB909)
  • This bill establishes the Strategic Energy Planning Office (SEPO). By September 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter, SEPO must develop and submit a Comprehensive Wholesale Energy Markets and Bulk Power System Risk Report to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for PSC, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA).

Check out the list of bills to be signed on May 20th.

Click here to read more about the Renewable Energy Certainty Act.