[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6475626,"mediaKeyId","5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd","parentId",5732278,"title","Solar developers press PSC to enforce interconnection timelines and expand flexible interconnection after HR1","audioSeconds",3048,"startMs",858000,"endMs",3906000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd&start=858&end=3906","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd/thumbnail_858000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475626/Maryland/Solar-developers-press-PSC-to-enforce-interconnection-timelines-and-expand-flexible-interconnection-after-HR1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475626-ecb73771194f2325f9c873de65955555/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457787&Signature=GiKDb-EJuo-BQnREfEQHMcCKD73KGUANyqoTNXyBhnmt1GYPIsDJolYHZgtNrR78RXxvX-BcGfD4jKZAQc9qrLJjAtpo8YKF~BhBADNFixt0SqF134SIIJUFOBKGgcXSYshPahr4nx1-XGk5xq1sGGb2nXCLvs5S1YTrkeg2fCH-E8TXo9Olg3reO7DkZuowfZ9HeC7kMz~8NIGkYgo~mJL2oRG-O0ZZ0rtc1pWRdECC~Ib9DQTlizSntMeV9FrN7QF3f70Lby85~GW4S7WEleXVrWo1cr9eoght~zRVVwtXhgVLfoqh9rn-b-rL3pIpSGJ5PF6MGwxE0FJaDyKBpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Service Commission, MD","date","2025-09-08T19:27:34Z","article","Commissioners at the Maryland Public Service Commission heard repeated pleas Thursday from solar developers and trade groups to crack down on utility delays in the interconnection process and to expand flexible interconnection so more projects can qualify for expiring federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act/HR 1.

Developers said the utilities frequently miss COMAR timelines for feasibility, system-impact and facility studies, and for issuing invoices and construction authorizations, delaying projects for months at the stage when bank financing and construction timing are most sensitive. Dexter Hendricks, senior manager of interconnection policy at the Coalition for Community Solar Access, told the commission that the “middle” phases — studies and utility-controlled construction scheduling — are where the biggest backlog exists and where commission oversight must focus.

Industry witnesses asked the PSC to require utilities to publish regular, project-level timing metrics and monthly or quarterly compliance reports that show the timing of feasibility studies, system-impact studies, facility studies and construction progress. “Developers cannot plan projects or secure financing when cost letters arrive months late or studies drag on indefinitely,” Hendricks said. Several developers pointed to New Jersey and New York reporting as models that provide transparency without adding excessive administrative burden.

Speakers also proposed practical near-term fixes: broader use of flexible interconnection (limited-export or tariff-based curtailment arrangements) so projects can interconnect at nameplate where hosting capacity exists subject to standardized curtailment triggers and telemetry; standardized invoices and clearer utility project managers; and, where utilities cannot meet construction schedules, allowing developers limited self-build of interconnection work under strict utility standards and oversight.

Utilities acknowledged the scale of the rush of applications since the community-solar permanent program took effect and said they are hiring staff, creating relationship-manager roles, improving portals and piloting internal performance indices to track schedule and cost performance. Pepco and BGE said they have added engineers and project managers in 2025 and are changing internal processes to shorten cycle times. Still, utility witnesses cautioned that allowing self-build and rapid regulatory changes can raise safety, ownership and rate-recovery questions that would need to be solved before statewide adoption.

Commission staff said it supports stronger queue transparency and suggested quarterly public queue milestones as a balance between developer needs and utility resource constraints. Staff also said it is open to working with stakeholders on a narrowly tailored “ombudsman” function to mediate interconnection disputes, modeled after similar roles in other states, but that details — including whether that role sits in staff, in the commission or is independent — would need careful design.

Why it matters: Federal tax-credit deadlines in HR1 and Treasury guidance have compressed development timetables; a single missed study or delayed upgrade can push a project past the dates required to qualify for full investment tax credits. Faster interconnection and clearer reporting would increase the chance that projects under development can be placed in service before credits phase out.

What’s next: Industry and utilities proposed next steps including a work group (PC 44 and other technical groups named in testimony) to build a standard set of interconnection reporting metrics, consideration of expanded flexible-interconnection tariffs, and iterative pilot tests for any self-build policy. Staff and utilities said they would file proposals and indicated participants could submit additional written input within two weeks of the conference.

Quotes: “Developers cannot plan projects or secure financing when cost letters arrive months late or studies drag on indefinitely,” Dexter Hendricks, Coalition for Community Solar Access.

Ending: The commission did not adopt any rule or emergency order at the hearing. Instead it asked staff to work with stakeholders to develop concrete reporting metrics, and invited the utilities and trade associations to provide joint proposals within the conference record so the commission can consider targeted changes quickly.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PC 73 - 09/08/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners at the Maryland Public Service Commission heard repeated pleas Thursday from solar developers and trade groups to crack down on utility delays in the interconnection process and to expand flexible interconnection so more projects can qualify for expiring federal tax credits under HR1.","taxTitle","Public Service Commission, Independent Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Maryland","taxId",80344,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475621,"Developers ask PSC to remove SOID prerequisite so community solar projects can enter interconnection queue sooner",1065,330000,1395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd&start=330&end=1395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd/thumbnail_330000.jpg","/articles/6475621/Maryland/Developers-ask-PSC-to-remove-SOID-prerequisite-so-community-solar-projects-can-enter-interconnection-queue-sooner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475621-172cb19ead3c9d687179b858426a5d75/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457787&Signature=orp3HbnWJWRZ435hcXsZZ1fncqIZsk0l-2vaiWR2nawFClBheBJNzeXYCUuJ3m3nyl9x064hjnt15wL~~N8EOOLEj0ShwW70T6RcECwBpwGseQxhlYkDdliXW8YpylgQsr80bJy81iWqTZzyyz4ngGFXna50x52Dvo~fKy4yoz-4Oc8aNnQjKk9k8yE3GNnHjTyl2H0LI-IhFGAIiS59LOc5t41A17AlvPq2p0FVe6bNs11jI2qTjgUmf1u1jfvQhCyCVujBjcjhdOQx30vM54HoNRKLMa-28aZeKVAwKKsSnRG9oKlcj5AL3-1qktyzkwmQhQPvjWT0hxsN3Ja3vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several community-solar trade groups said Thursday the Subscriber Organization ID (SOID) approval requirement — currently a prerequisite in practice for filing interconnection applications — is an unnecessary administrative hold-up that adds months to project timelines.

Charlie Coggeshall and David Bugleman, representing the Coalition for Community Solar Access and allied trade groups, said the SOID step remains an artifact of an earlier pilot program and is not required by statute; their industry dataset showed SOID approvals took an average of 3½ months in 2024 and are now exceeding 4 months in 2025. Lightstar Renewables reported an average SOID wait of 128 days and a maximum of 219 days for projects in its portfolio.

Developers proposed three changes: allow applicants to file SOID and interconnection applications concurrently; accept site-control documentation as part of the interconnection application so utilities can screen speculative entries; or retain SOID review but streamline PSC processing with a standard checklist and faster staff turnarounds. Several developers said removing the SOID prerequisite alone would free up months of development time and better align Maryland with other states’ practices.

PSC staff and several commissioners asked clarifying questions about the components of an SOID review and the protections it supplies — for example, county siting, agricultural/forest protections and bonding obligations specific to community solar. Industry witnesses said they were not seeking to eliminate SOID protections but rather to change the timing so interconnection work can begin earlier. Utilities and Potomac Edison warned that removing SOID as an upfront filter could increase speculative applications and complicate queue integrity unless accompanied by concrete safeguards such as required proof of site control and improved public-queue transparency.

Why it matters: For community-solar projects facing HR1-related tax-credit deadlines, every month counts. Industry witnesses told the commission the SOID timing is a near-term “low-hanging fruit” that can be changed by administrative action if the commission and staff are aligned.

What’s next: Staff indicated it is open to proposals that preserve SOID safeguards while allowing parallel processing; stakeholders were invited to refine proposals in a work group and submit joint filings to the commission.

Quote: “Removing the SOID prerequisite requirement will free up months of development time, reduce administrative burdens for staff, and align Maryland with best practices across the country,” Charlie Coggeshall, Coalition for Community Solar Access.

Ending: The commission asked participating parties to return with more narrowly specified proposals and noted the option of using a work group to craft a coordinated approach.","Several community-solar trade groups told the Public Service Commission that subscriber-organization ID approvals are delaying interconnection and urged the commission to allow SOID and interconnection filings to proceed in parallel.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475611,"State officials and MEA warn hundreds of Maryland community solar projects and grants are at risk under HR1",12272,2326000,14598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd&start=2326&end=14598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd/thumbnail_2326000.jpg","/articles/6475611/Maryland/State-officials-and-MEA-warn-hundreds-of-Maryland-community-solar-projects-and-grants-are-at-risk-under-HR1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475611-b6b7728519093b78e89b2520eaf07586/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457787&Signature=V0GR1PHYRMaWeH0pMQN4T12km3RhxSepluJTtjKRyEtk57FQl-KN3mNAvOZVSh~epXzSJI~0Qy~F~r94in1Jyw8yP6V7hJ5fkZYkVE9rHNSCozBOlNOHXrbH5udHUt0LejH-l4o7hPEMT1rnzDBCdo3Cc0ZfmqRyG7XMtGymJwAbngZKfOJWWpxtRE8yQ7XVikp4guwv9iX3darEBZKYrSojOicT1WhTv5mawZ1fqvt4H4~Ci1zS1MpwxthTcF7kPMkiMAVYA~DdgIX64EfgW7DeLeD74y6L5U-DDq9lnU-YdowXaHMdC-V6vdlnfz5LW8s10epWI7XVxBhqJRB9lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State energy officials and developers told the Public Service Commission that hundreds of community-solar projects in Maryland face a real risk of losing federal investment tax credits unless state permitting and interconnection processes move faster.

Haley Kotzker of the Maryland Energy Administration said MEA identified 273 active grant projects potentially affected by the new federal timing rules; MEA estimated the total investment at risk at roughly $353 million and that grant awards at risk total roughly $79 million. MEA said keeping practical extension policies in place for projects that have advanced in good faith and accelerating interconnection reforms are complementary short-term steps to preserve projects’ tax-credit eligibility.

Industry witnesses said the most immediately useful near-term reforms would be eliminating the SOID prerequisite delay, standardizing decommissioning agreements, strengthening utility reporting and compliance with interconnection timelines, and expanding flexible interconnection paths so projects can qualify for federal credits while upgrades are completed. Several companies stressed most of the near-term benefits would accrue to smaller distributed projects and community solar proposals that do not require full CPCN permitting.

Why it matters: MEA’s figures quantify the potential economic impact for Maryland stakeholders if projects cannot meet HR1 deadlines: private capital, state grant dollars, and near-term clean-energy capacity could be lost.

What’s next: MEA recommended expedited actions including maintaining extension policies for mature projects, joining utilities and developers on a rapid interconnection-reporting work group, and pushing PPRP/PSC to finalize DG CPCN and decommissioning procedures on a compressed timeline.

Quote: “We are tracking 273 active grant projects at risk and an estimated $353 million in total at-risk funding,” Haley Kotzker, Maryland Energy Administration.

Ending: The commission recorded the agency estimates in the conference record and asked staff, MEA and stakeholders to continue coordinated efforts to preserve projects before federal deadlines.","Maryland Energy Administration and other speakers told the Public Service Commission that hundreds of community-solar and other distributed projects face loss of federal tax incentives unless permitting and interconnection timelines are accelerated. MEA estimated hundreds of projects and hundreds of millions in incentives and grants could be at",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475617,"Agencies and developers push PSC to accelerate DG CPCN rules and standardize decommissioning",12534,711000,13245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd&start=711&end=13245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732278-5fded1e6c1568742d8fd8dae6f9d09bd/thumbnail_711000.jpg","/articles/6475617/Maryland/Agencies-and-developers-push-PSC-to-accelerate-DG-CPCN-rules-and-standardize-decommissioning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475617-f631383c34aaf46e341cb4f43205148d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457787&Signature=jrqaO5z807Z3B1StL17Q5ennRAdrbuiSddmANjeEUjM~YD~ofpp3vgLzBgE5UYMBk88yh9-ljGv4ueJfngkQ5-nPFThOKdvgGA84I1xo8H1F3kOUAwdiWuW61EISSbugih5cCt2pi1QFBR6dBMMXG0cJTCv3g07TnMmsixq02-YLrqaG9eBUtDlhrHfflJyqMi9IHnuhDQu4ukeW2QEI27isNMyb3v~mL0IBgN6VxLatGfn0D9aUTQCqbBG4SxsNAb2~RAQBNEDCDIEFpWNFfvOjY6aBhgf-XLwSZNa5l39Zwm6fTCruHH43QlCDJwyrAO9664h4nfNnegZreEW35A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from PPRP, the Maryland Energy Administration and the solar industry told the commission that near-term administrative reforms to the distributed-generation CPCN process and clearer, standardized decommissioning requirements would reduce delays and regulatory rework that now threaten projects’ ability to qualify for federal tax credits.

Bob Ciesinski, director of the Power Plant Research Program (PPRP), said his office’s workload has exploded: PPRP now has roughly 45 community-solar and utility-scale solar matters in active review and an additional 150 pre-application items; transmission cases have also spiked. To address the caseload, PPRP has shortened its project assessment reports into compact tables, issued an online pre-application checklist, and spun up a cross-agency work group to develop the standard siting and design requirements the Renewable Energy Certainty Act (RECA) requires.

Developers and MEA supported accelerating the DG CPCN timeline and recommended the PSC and PPRP complete procedural elements earlier than statutory backstops so the new administrative CPCN process can swiftly clear projects. David Bugleman and other industry witnesses proposed using a stakeholder work group and a target filing date for recommended procedural regulations so the commission could consider them promptly.

Decommissioning was a recurrent theme. CCSA’s counsel and other developers explained that RECA requires projects over 1 MW to post a standard decommissioning agreement and surety bond to the commission beginning July 1, 2025. Industry witnesses said current CPCN decommissioning conditions are inconsistent across projects, sometimes forcing developers back to the commission for administrative hearings to approve cost estimates — a process that can block construction starts. CCSA proposed a publicly vetted dollar-per-megawatt bonding schedule and a standardized bond or form agreement to allow administrative approvals rather than case-by-case hearings.

PPRP said it has formed subgroups to draft both DG CPCN substantive requirements and a decommissioning template; PPRP aims to provide recommended standards by late November or early December. MEA said standardization would reduce litigation and accelerate project completion while preserving environmental safeguards.

Why it matters: Uncertainty about post-CPCN decommissioning requirements and lack of standardized procedural rules can create pre-construction gating events that delay a project’s ability to commence construction in time to qualify for federal incentives.

What’s next: PPRP will continue the multi-agency work group and deliver proposed standard siting and decommissioning templates to the commission; industry offered to participate in a stakeholder process and pledged to provide comments on draft rules on compressed timelines.

Quote: “We have about 45 solar projects in review — a 700% increase from 18 months ago — and we need standardized templates to review these efficiently,” Bob Ciesinski, director, Power Plant Research Program.

Ending: The commission encouraged rapid agency and stakeholder cooperation so PPRP can complete recommended templates and procedural proposals before the 2026–27 federal deadlines.","Power Plant Research Program, trade groups and developers urged the Public Service Commission to accelerate implementation of distributed-generation CPCN rules required by the Renewable Energy Certainty Act and to standardize decommissioning bonds and agreements to avoid administrative rework that can delay construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Solar developers press PSC to enforce interconnection timelines and expand flexible interconnection after HR1

Developers ask PSC to remove SOID prerequisite so community solar projects can enter interconnection queue sooner

State officials and MEA warn hundreds of Maryland community solar projects and grants are at risk under HR1

Agencies and developers push PSC to accelerate DG CPCN rules and standardize decommissioning