A state lawmaker is scrutinizing the ethics and motivations behind Senate President Bill Ferguson’s votes on energy legislation and chamber priorities.

Del. Mark Fisher, a Calvert County Republican, told Spotlight on Maryland on Thursday that he is frustrated that the Democratic leader of the state Senate did not recuse himself from votes during the latest legislative session, which could directly affect his private employment income.

“Literally, his company will benefit greatly from the passage of this bill,” Fisher said. “[It’s] probably the most sweeping piece of legislation in the state of Maryland as it relates to preempting local zoning authority to place solar panels across farmland that was once preserved and now is going to be hideously ugly, full of solar panels.”

With approximately 15 minutes remaining in the year’s legislative session before adjournment, Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, called for a final vote on the Renewable Energy Certainty Act.

This move marked the bill’s last legislative hurdle before heading to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for final signature.

Ferguson voted with the majority to approve the solar energy legislation.

According to the act’s fiscal note, the cross-filed bill in the House and Senate established or modified various aspects of state law related to solar energy and panel storage. The note further said that the law would reduce restrictions on solar energy generation stations, when applicable and approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, to support the state’s renewable energy goals.

“There is a solar grift,” Fisher said. “I would ask Sen. Ferguson to once and for all, quite frankly, stay out of this debate because he has a very clear conflict.”

State ethics filings show Ferguson joined CI Renew, a Baltimore-based solar energy company, as its senior vice president and legal counsel in May 2024. On the same day he was hired, Ferguson signed and submitted a disclaimer of an apparent or presumed conflict of interest to the state’s ethics counsel.

“As of May 28, 2024, I have begun employment as a senior legal advisor at CI Renewables, LLC, a solar development firm based in Baltimore, MD,” Ferguson wrote. “However, I swear or affirm that despite the presumed or apparent conflict, I am able to participate in legislative action relating to the above fairly, objectively, and in the public interest.”

Ferguson then filed an updated legislative ethics disclosure in January 2025, offering more details about his employment activities with CI Renewables.

“I, Senator Ferguson, hereby report that I am assisting CI Renewables LLC (non-legislative employer) in seeking a contract, license, or other competitive award with or from Howard County government through a Power Purchase agreement that was negotiated and executed prior to the state of my employment with the firm,” Ferguson wrote. “I will or expect to financially benefit if the client is awarded the contract, license, or other competitive award.”

Spotlight on Maryland asked the Maryland General Assembly’s Legislative Ethics Counsel whether the committee authorized Ferguson to vote on legislation that could directly benefit him and his company.

Dea Daly, the state’s ethics legal counsel, declined to comment via email.

“Section 5-517 of the General Provisions Article provides that, except for specific exemptions not applicable here, ethics matters are confidential,” Daly wrote.

Spotlight on Maryland sent several questions on Thursday to Ferguson, asking in part:

Why did energy portfolio expansion legislation not advance in your chamber?

What actions did you take to influence energy legislation this session?

Do you believe it is a conflict of interest to be a leading lawmaker and earn your private income from an energy company directly affected by your decisions?

Were decisions made this legislative session in your chamber that directly benefited your company?

Do you think it was inappropriate not to recuse yourself from energy votes and discussions, given your direct affiliation?

How much are you making at CI Renew?

President Ferguson responded by email, not directly answering most of the questions posed.

“I have enjoyed working at CI Renewables since May 2024 and serve as senior vice president and counsel,” Ferguson said. “In this role, my primary responsibilities involve the review of corporate legal documents related to commercial and industrial projects.”

“As I have done with all non-legislative employment throughout my more than a decade in public office, I regularly communicate with the General Assembly’s Legislative Ethics Counsel to ensure compliance with all related rules and ethical standards for part-time legislators,” Ferguson added.

CI Renew’s website confirms Ferguson’s employment, saying that he brings a “powerful combination of legal expertise, public service experience, and passion for renewable energy.”

“Bill’s career reflects a consistent through line: use every available tool – law, policy, and leadership – to accelerate solutions that work for real people,” CI Renew’s website says.

Meanwhile, Fisher told Spotlight on Maryland that Ferguson needs to provide more answers on how certain energy legislation passed the Senate chamber while others failed to advance.

“Why the senate president has allowed for this to happen and put through the solar bill, which gives preference to solar panels over nuclear power, or electric generation, or solar panels over ratepayers and their electricity bills, well, that’s for him to explain,” Fisher said.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that solar energy generation has the lowest capacity factor among various electricity generation sources over time. The capacity factor measures an energy source’s consistency and reliability in generating electricity.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between The Baltimore Sun, FOX45 News and WJLA in Washington, D.C. Do you have news tips on this story or others? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com.