Fire-safety concerns slow small/portable solar bill; committee adopts substitute then schedules further review

The committee considered a substitute to conform language on small or portable residential solar (sometimes described as "balcony solar") to a Senate-passed version. The substitute adds per-customer wattage limits and moves certain landlord-tenant provisions into Title 56.

Firefighters' representatives and several senators questioned whether the devices require a local building permit, whether an identifiable disconnect would be available for first responders, and whether anti-islanding protections are sufficient to prevent backfeeding into circuits. Victoria Higgins of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund told the committee the devices are designed with anti-islanding functionality and that the legislation contains liability protections, but senators pressed for clearer safety provisions and suggested reenactment language to ensure firefighter protections remain intact as counterparts in the other chamber consider amendments.

Members discussed the practical cost of required safety devices and whether installations would require electrical engineering work and permits; one senator estimated anti-backfeed devices could cost $1,000–$3,000 for many installations. Given the outstanding safety questions and the potential costs for homeowners, the committee agreed to place the bill "by for the day" rather than advance it immediately.