MD SB998

Amends the legislative intent from "accelerating" to "promoting" gas infrastructure improvements, adding requirements that projects be necessary for safety and consistent with state climate policy

Requires gas company infrastructure replacement plans to include cost comparisons with alternatives such as leak detection/repair and targeted system retirement with electrification

Mandates 2-year advance notification to customers affected by proposed projects to allow time to switch to electric alternatives

Adds new approval criteria requiring the Public Service Commission to find that projects are consistent with reducing natural gas use under state climate policy and with the projected availability and cost-effectiveness of natural gas alternatives (biomethane, hydrogen, synthetic methane)

Defines "natural gas" as methane from geological formations and creates a separate category for "natural gas alternatives" that can be burned in place of or alongside natural gas