Lawmakers are coordinating a push to advance legislation addressing climate change.On Tuesday, legislators and advocates gathered on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis in support of several bills that support the goals laid out by Gov. Wes Moore’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.Several of those bills are stuck in committee. The delay could be due to numerous factors, including costs and the sheer volume of legislation under consideration at the State House.Moore’s climate plan is estimated to cost $1 billion per year. Supporters said the stalled legislation is essential to ensure Maryland keeps pace on reaching 100% clean energy by 2035.”The alternative is worse. If we don’t believe in the system, if we don’t have hope and if we don’t have a vision, we might as well not come to work anymore,” Maryland League of Conservation Voters executive director Kim Coble said.Coble led a rally in support of the legislation Tuesday.”We do not have to choose between technology and environmental protection. We do not have to choose between economic growth and fighting climate change,” she said.One measure carves out an exemption for manufacturers from current law aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Another establishes a fee on coal and natural gas transported by rail through Maryland.”Forty percent of the funds that would be generated, $250-300 million, would be allocated to overburdened and underserved communities,” Baltimore County Delegate Dana Stein, D-District 11B, said.New legislation also aims at charting a new course for bay restoration. The bill establishes a watershed restoration partnership to accelerate stream restoration.There is also a measure providing incentives to install solar power.”We can chew gum and walk at the same time, and get more done with limited taxpayer dollars to invest in our critical Chesapeake Bay goals,” said Anne Arundel County Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-District 30.One bill that is moving is one of Moore’s priorities. It is strongly opposed by environmentalists who say it’s out of line with his pollution reduction goals.The Moore administration wants to lure large-scale data centers to Maryland as a significant job creator. That bill exempts diesel-powered backup generators from regulatory review by the Public Service Commission. Hundreds of those generators may be needed.Environmentalists have tried to get the legislation amended, but all suggestions have been rejected. A grassroots organization called The Climate Justice Wing is opposed to the data center bill.”These data centers can literally have hundreds of diesel generators that have to run once a week or once a month for an hour to make sure they are working. That’s a lot of particular matter that goes in the air,” Climate Justice Wing spokesperson Dave Arnt said.The governor’s office released a statement saying the data centers would face emissions standards, and that the governor is committed to making Maryland cleaner while also preparing for cyber challenges ahead.
Lawmakers are coordinating a push to advance legislation addressing climate change.
On Tuesday, legislators and advocates gathered on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis in support of several bills that support the goals laid out by Gov. Wes Moore’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.
Several of those bills are stuck in committee. The delay could be due to numerous factors, including costs and the sheer volume of legislation under consideration at the State House.
Moore’s climate plan is estimated to cost $1 billion per year. Supporters said the stalled legislation is essential to ensure Maryland keeps pace on reaching 100% clean energy by 2035.
“The alternative is worse. If we don’t believe in the system, if we don’t have hope and if we don’t have a vision, we might as well not come to work anymore,” Maryland League of Conservation Voters executive director Kim Coble said.
Coble led a rally in support of the legislation Tuesday.
“We do not have to choose between technology and environmental protection. We do not have to choose between economic growth and fighting climate change,” she said.
One measure carves out an exemption for manufacturers from current law aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Another establishes a fee on coal and natural gas transported by rail through Maryland.
“Forty percent of the funds that would be generated, $250-300 million, would be allocated to overburdened and underserved communities,” Baltimore County Delegate Dana Stein, D-District 11B, said.
New legislation also aims at charting a new course for bay restoration. The bill establishes a watershed restoration partnership to accelerate stream restoration.
There is also a measure providing incentives to install solar power.
“We can chew gum and walk at the same time, and get more done with limited taxpayer dollars to invest in our critical Chesapeake Bay goals,” said Anne Arundel County Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-District 30.
One bill that is moving is one of Moore’s priorities. It is strongly opposed by environmentalists who say it’s out of line with his pollution reduction goals.
The Moore administration wants to lure large-scale data centers to Maryland as a significant job creator. That bill exempts diesel-powered backup generators from regulatory review by the Public Service Commission. Hundreds of those generators may be needed.
Environmentalists have tried to get the legislation amended, but all suggestions have been rejected. A grassroots organization called The Climate Justice Wing is opposed to the data center bill.
“These data centers can literally have hundreds of diesel generators that have to run once a week or once a month for an hour to make sure they are working. That’s a lot of particular matter that goes in the air,” Climate Justice Wing spokesperson Dave Arnt said.
The governor’s office released a statement saying the data centers would face emissions standards, and that the governor is committed to making Maryland cleaner while also preparing for cyber challenges ahead.
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