Michael P. Cain

The council meeting covered several legislative and program-related topics. Discussions included reflections on the recent legislative session, specifically regarding the RELIEF Act and new procurement waiver opportunities, as well as the impact of potential Public Service Commission net metering changes on future solar projects. The council also discussed plans to update the high-performance green building program by November to address typos, improve clarity regarding central plant requirements, and ensure ADA compliance. Planning for an upcoming in-person meeting was initiated, with a focus on central plant operators and related agency involvement.

The council discussed ongoing legislative session updates, including bills related to energy reporting, high-performance building standards, and omnibus energy legislation. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation and discussion on life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), including methods for projecting building operational costs, the impact of various energy efficiency measures, and the consideration of equipment life cycles. The council also addressed the 2026 meeting schedule, announced a shift to every-other-month meetings for the summer and fall, and shared updates regarding energy demand response programs for state agencies.

The meeting agenda included ongoing business regarding the High Performance Green Building Program (HPGBP) being in the approval and signing process with the Department of General Services (DGS) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM). New business focused heavily on discussing council insights into the 2026 legislative session. Key legislative items reviewed included a fuel neutrality building code proposal, HB79 concerning 'to the extent economically practicable' language in climate acts, HB66 regarding state withdrawal from RGGI, HB119 concerning energy performance contract navigators, and SB116 regarding sustainability alignment in contracts reviewed by the Board of Public Works. There was extensive discussion on potential council activities for 2026, including input for HPGBP updates and recommendations for sustainable buildings not covered by HPGBP. The discussion also covered the Buy Clean mandate for including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in concrete specifications by July 1st for projects subject to HPGBP. Furthermore, the council discussed a future roundtable on building design precedence (aesthetics versus efficiency) and reviewed an FAQ document for the HPGBP. An update was provided on a DGS conference regarding energy performance contracting scheduled for March 11th.

Key discussions focused on the final edits of the HPGBP FAQ document and the official publication of the Annual Report. Council members provided insights on the 2026 legislative session, specifically addressing House Bill 870 concerning energy conservation requirements for large buildings, House Bill 614 regarding monthly energy use reporting for schools, and Senate Bill 479/House Bill 1217 concerning exemptions for older buildings from Energy Use Intensity targets. A significant portion of the meeting addressed navigating potential trade-offs between energy performance and construction cost, focusing on window-to-wall ratio and lifecycle cost analysis, including thermal mass. The council also discussed the potential update to the HPGBP and reviewed the 2026 meeting schedules, confirming an in-person meeting in May. Additionally, an advisory from the Board of Public Works requiring sustainability attributes, including HPGBP compliance, in contract advisories was discussed.

The Maryland High Performance Green Building Program guides state agencies and local educational agencies in the design, construction, and operation of state-owned facilities, promoting the use of green building technologies. The program incorporates requirements from state law and the Governor's Executive Order 01.01.2023.07, aligning with the state's goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. It mandates compliance with approved green building rating systems or codes, such as LEED, IgCC, or Green Globes, and includes specific requirements for decarbonization, energy efficiency, bird-safe construction, green purchasing, and fleet vehicle electrification.