§ 9-2014

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Extended grid outage” means a planned or unplanned grid outage lasting more than 4 hours.

(3) “Low–income” means a household with an annual adjusted gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty level.

(4) “Microgrid” means technology that:

(i) combines clean, distributed power generation with advanced control equipment; and

(ii) enables portions of the electric grid to remain online when the wider grid is down.

(5) “Moderate–income” means a household with an annual adjusted gross income at or below 80% of the local median income, as determined by the latest Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development “Income Limits” document.

(6) “Program” means the Resiliency Hub Grant Program.

(7) “Resiliency hub” means a location where solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage are designed to provide electricity to meet community needs during extended grid outages, including providing:

(i) emergency heating and cooling;

(ii) refrigeration of temperature–sensitive medications;

(iii) outlets or other plug power options for charging cell phone and computer batteries; and

(iv) ventilation and emergency lighting.

(b) There is a Resiliency Hub Grant Program in the Administration.

(c) The purpose of the Program is to develop resiliency hubs that serve low–income and moderate–income households at no cost to the households.

(d) (1) By regulation, the Administration shall set the terms and conditions for the issuance of grants under the Program consistent with this subtitle.

(2) The regulations shall include:

(i) a competitive application process for the Program; and

(ii) criteria and procedures for awarding grants to eligible recipients that give priority to awarding grants to projects for microgrids that:

1. use a community solar energy generating system, as defined in § 7–306.2 of the Public Utilities Article; and

2. provide more than 30% of the system’s kilowatt output to low–income and moderate–income subscribers.

(e) The following persons are eligible for a grant under the Program:

(1) businesses;

(2) nonprofit entities;

(3) units of State government; and

(4) local governments.

(f) A project is eligible for a grant under the Program if the project:

(1) proposes to develop a resiliency hub;

(2) will operate the resiliency hub for a period of at least 5 years; and

(3) will serve a community of majority low–income or moderate–income households.

(g) The Administration shall:

(1) coordinate administration of the Program with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management; and

(2) provide to grant applicants information on other sources of assistance that may benefit the project, including loans and grants awarded under § 9–20B–05(i)(3) of this title.

(h) A person who receives a grant under the Program shall:

(1) acquire a written attestation that all installation contractors and subcontractors working on the project:

(i) pay at least 150% of the State minimum wage;

(ii) afford employees the right to bargain collectively for wages and benefits;

(iii) provide paid leave;

(iv) are considered “covered employment” for purposes of unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with Title 8 of the Labor and Employment Article;

(v) entitle the employees to workers’ compensation benefits in accordance with Title 9 of the Labor and Employment Article;

(vi) have been in compliance with federal and State wage and hour laws for the longer of the immediately preceding 3 years or for the duration of the contractor’s or subcontractor’s business operation; and

(vii) offer employer–provided health insurance benefits with monthly premiums that do not exceed 8.5% of the employee’s net monthly earnings; and

(2) provide to the Administration a progress report on or before January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10 each year.