(a) In this section, "Working Group" means the Solar Photovoltaic Systems Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling Working Group of the Commission. (b) The Commission shall establish a Solar Photovoltaic Systems Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling Working Group. (c) The Working Group shall include: (1) One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate; (2) One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; (3) The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee; (4) The Director of the Maryland Energy Administration, or the Director's designee; (5) The Secretary of Natural Resources, or the Secretary's designee; (6) One representative of the Public Service Commission, selected by the Chair of the Commission; (7) One representative of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, selected by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; (8) The following members, appointed by the Governor: (i) One representative of an investor-owned electric company with customers in the State; (ii) One representative of the utility-scale solar industry; (iii) One representative of the community solar energy industry; (iv) One representative of the distributed generation solar industry; (v) One representative with expertise in solar photovoltaic systems recovery, reuse, and recycling; and (vi) One individual with expertise in decommissioning energy- related projects; and (9) Any other individual identified by the Commission. (d) The Secretary shall designate the chair of the Working Group. (e) The Department shall provide staff for the Working Group. (f) A member of the Working Group: (1) May not receive compensation as a member of the Working Group; but (2) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. (g) The Working Group shall: (1) Review solar photovoltaic systems currently used in the State, including: (i) Examining the expected economically productive life cycle of the systems; (ii) Reviewing the materials that are used, have been used, or may be used in solar photovoltaic systems sold in the State, including identifying materials that can be recycled or that exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under State or federal law; and (iii) Identifying the number of solar photovoltaic systems in use and estimating the potential impacts on the State's landfill capacity of disposing the systems in the State's landfills; (2) Review other programs on solar photovoltaic systems recycling, disposal, and decommissioning; (3) Identify ongoing and recent studies related to solar photovoltaic systems recycling, life-cycle analysis, and end-of-life programs; (4) Review industry-approved best practices for managing end-of- life solar photovoltaic systems and their components, including the extent to which the systems and components may be: (i) If not damaged or in need of repair, reused for a similar purpose; (ii) If not substantially damaged, refurbished and reused for a similar purpose; (iii) Recycled and the components recovered for reuse; (iv) For components that do not exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under State or federal law, safely disposed of in a construction and demolition or municipal solid waste landfill; and (v) For components that exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under State or federal law, safely disposed of in accordance with State and federal requirements; (5) Perform an economic analysis to determine the potential impact of solar photovoltaic systems recovery, reuse, and recycling on ratepayers, including a comparison to the economic impact on ratepayers of decommissioning, storing waste, and other costs associated with the end of life of other forms of energy generation; (6) Perform an impact assessment to examine the environmental impacts of various solar photovoltaic systems' end-of-life scenarios, including the scenarios specified under item (4) of this subsection, compared to the life-cycle environmental impacts of nonsolar energy generation sources in the State, including the environmental impacts of decommissioning, disposal, and long-term waste storage; (7) Perform an impact assessment to examine the environmental and economic benefits of generating energy from solar photovoltaic systems, including a comparison to the environmental and economic benefits of nonsolar energy generation sources in the State; (8) Examine and recommend infrastructure needed to develop a practical, effective, and cost-efficient method for collecting and transporting end-of- life solar photovoltaic modules for reuse, refurbishment, recycling, or disposal; (9) Analyze whether financing mechanisms, including advance recovery fees, recycling and disposal fees, and product stewardship programs, are necessary to ensure proper end-of-life management of solar photovoltaic systems; and (10) Recommend financing mechanisms analyzed under item (9) of this subsection that best support a circular economy approach. (h) On or before December 31, 2023, the Working Group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.
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