Supporters and scientists press to add waste-to-energy to Maryland's renewable portfolio standard

Maryland lawmakers heard hours of testimony on HB 15 72 on March 13 as industry, scientists and local innovators urged the Environment and Transportation Committee to include modern waste‑to‑energy technologies among eligible sources for renewable energy credits.

Mary Urban, director of public affairs at Wind Waste Innovations in Baltimore, told the committee the city's facility processes roughly 700,000 tons of municipal solid waste and produces power for about 31,000 homes. "We support adding more non‑fossil fuel base‑load energy to the RPS for greater reliability and greater protections of in‑state energy generation," Urban said.

Ashwani Gupta, a senior professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, framed the technology as an internationally accepted waste‑management approach. Drawing on peer‑reviewed data, Gupta said modern waste‑to‑energy plants operate with emissions well below federal and state health limits and reduce landfill volume by an estimated 90 percent per ton of waste combusted.

Several committee members pressed witnesses on technical details, particularly byproducts and contaminant fate. A technology developer described a nitrogen‑wrapped gasification process that he said produces an inert sand byproduct that can be used in concrete mixes and a purified water stream. "It's been heated to the point where it's mineralized," the witness said, adding that when certain feedstocks are used the system can produce ammonia sulfate fertilizer.

Members also asked how the process handles PFAS. Witnesses asserted the technology breaks down or sequesters persistent chemicals, but acknowledged the committee would need pilot data and regulatory clarity before relying on such claims in statute. Delegate Robin Gramberg suggested limiting initial oversight to larger facilities or pilot programs to address fiscal and data gaps.

Christopher Dibnoyne, founder and executive director of a Baltimore composting nonprofit, urged an inclusive approach that keeps local innovators at the table: "If we exclude these people from the table, then we're not advancing waste in any way and form possible," he said.

The chair closed the hearing on HB 15 72 without a formal vote; committee members indicated interest in amendments to define pilot funding, monitoring requirements and the regulatory roles of MDE and other agencies.

What's next: The sponsor and advocates said they expected follow‑up conversations to refine language on monitoring, pilot projects and the treatment/disposition of byproducts.