Department of General Services - Clean Energy Procurement Program - Establishment

SB 480 requires Maryland's Department of General Services to establish a Clean Energy Procurement Program by January 1, 2026, to evaluate biogas as an alternative to natural gas for state transportation and building operations. The program mandates issuing a competitive bid solicitation for biogas contracts, collecting data on natural gas use, and requiring the University System of Maryland to complete a lifecycle analysis of biogas (with the Power Plant Research Program covering analysis costs). The Department must analyze the environmental and economic benefits of expanding biogas use, while ensuring biogas is competitively priced, high quality, and available. The program runs until December 31, 2028, supporting Maryland’s net-zero emissions goals by assessing biogas feasibility for state operations.