TEE Supports House Bill 1397

Posted on: February 20, 2025

Author: Patrick Welch

Terrapin Energy and Environment, on behalf of the Energy Artisans, provided testimony in support of Delegate Chris Tomlinson's House Bill 1397, as currently amended, for the 2025 regular session of the Maryland General Assembly. This Bill seeks to add limited additional considerations for new high-voltages transmission construction as part of the mandated CPCN process. The Energy Artisans, a coalition of energy professionals, believe that the Bill will provide additional accountability to the process by highlighting more efficient alternatives, and will help to ensure that the public interest is protected.

Further, it is critical that while seeking these alternatives is preferred, this Bill limits additional requirements placed on applicants, encouraging development of more transmission and transmission adjacent projects in the state. As is well known throughout the state, and as recounted in my written testimony, Maryland is currently significantly deficient in energy generation capacity. Part of this is due to underservice of transmission infrastructure.

TEE and the Energy Artisans will continue to support these efforts as long as they present a logical and practical approach to solving these issues for Marylander's.

Full Terrapin Energy and Environment Testimony