Maryland LCV: Gov. O'Malley Introduces Strong Conservation Agenda

Maryland League of Conservation Voters

 

Press Release

 

For Immediate Release 
January 23, 2008

 

Contact: Dawn Stoltzfus dstoltzfus@mdlcv.org, cell: 410-562-5655; office 410-280-9855
Cindy Schwartz, cschwartz@mdlcv.org, cell: 240-535-6050

 

Governor O’Malley Introduces Strong Conservation Agenda for 2008 General Assembly Session
Administration’s Bills Address Three out of Four of the Environmental Community’s Top Priorities — Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund, Critical Areas Act, and Energy Efficiency

 

(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) – The O’Malley Administration’s 2008 legislative package addresses three out of four of the environmental community’s top priorities for this session: the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund, the Critical Areas Act, and energy efficiency. In addition, this year the Governor’s budget includes full funding for Program Open Space. On Monday Governor O’Malley introduced his 2008 legislative agenda and today the Governor affirmed his commitment to the environment in his State of the State address.

 

Cindy Schwartz, Executive Director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said: “As the political voice for the environment, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters gives credit where credit is due -- so we are excited to see that the O’Malley Administration intends to make conservation a priority this session by working to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and reduce our energy consumption. In his State of the State address, Governor O’Malley made it clear that the environment is a priority to be protected. We’re pleased to see that the Administration's own legislative agenda addresses some of Maryland's most pressing environmental issues.”

 

Ms. Schwartz continued: “Ensuring that the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund is spent wisely and efficiently and strengthening the Critical Areas Act will go a long way to protect the Bay and our waterways. Reducing Maryland’s energy use will not only help fight global warming and prevent ‘brownouts,’ it will also create jobs through investments in renewable energy and green buildings while saving taxpayers money in the long run. In addition, for the second year the Governor’s budget fully funds Program Open Space, which is desperately needed as Maryland struggles to preserve our farms and open spaces and promote smart growth.” 

 

Ms. Schwartz said:  “Last year, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters wondered whether it was the ‘year of the environment’ in Maryland -- but in fact, in a state whose residents demonstrate a strong conservation ethic, where the Chesapeake Bay and our natural resources are a central part of our identity and our economy, and a state that could be severely impacted by global warming, every year should be the year of the environment. We’re looking forward to getting these conservation priorities passed this Session, and we greatly appreciate this commitment from Governor O’Malley as well as the Departments of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Critical Areas Commission.”

 

One priority not included in the Governor’s agenda is the Global Warming Solutions Act, which would reduce Maryland’s global warming pollution 25% by 2020 and 90% by 2050, science-based targets that have been recommended by the Governor’s own Commission on Climate Change.

 

Ms. Schwartz said: “We know that Governor O’Malley is taking the issue of global warming seriously, and we look forward to working with him on the Climate Commission’s number one recommendation -- the Global Warming Solutions Act -- to significantly reduce Maryland’s greenhouse gases.”

 

The top four priorities established by the Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment, a coalition of the major environmental groups that lobby in Annapolis, for the 2008 Session are:

 

• Reform of the Critical Areas Law (Administration bill to come): The Critical Area Law protects the 1,000 foot buffer zone around the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays and the tidal portions of their tributaries. The law, passed in 1984, was intended to strictly limit development along the shoreline. To date it has had a positive impact, but has not come close to achieving its objectives. The environmental community is working with the Critical Areas Commission on legislative fixes to the law that would improve its implementation; suggested solutions include giving the Critical Area Commission regulatory authority and enforcement power and creating a public advocate to defend the critical areas in planning hearings.

 

• Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund (Administration Bill =  SB 213):  In November’s Special Session, the General Assembly passed a budget bill that creates a yearly $50 million dedicated fund to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The historic legislation will help reduce pollution and bring the State closer to meeting its 2010 Bay-restoration commitments. The environmental community is working with the General Assembly to develop legislation that ensures the funds are used effectively and efficiently to get the Bay off the federal “dirty waters” list.

 

• Energy Efficiency - 15% reduction by 2015 (Administration Bill = SB 205):. Improving energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to address our energy needs and reduce global warming emissions. This year the environmental community will be supporting the Administration bill to reach the Governor’s goal of reducing energy consumption per capita 15% by 2015.

 

• 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act (to be sponsored by Senator Pinsky and Delegate Barve):  Maryland, with its 3,100 miles of tidally influenced coastline, is highly susceptible to negative impact of global warming. This bill will set science-based, targeted reductions of global warming emissions 25% by 2020 and 90% by 2050 and establish a timeline that directs state agencies to design programs to meet those reductions. In December, the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change recommended these same reductions to the Administration.

 

Other important environmental initiatives also part of the governor’s legislative package include increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 9.5% to 20%, which would increase the amount of clean, renewable energy used in Maryland, and a measure requiring that all new schools and certain state buildings be built as high performance buildings, which would achieve a significant reduction in energy and water use.

 

Ms. Schwartz said: “Elections really do matter. Having such a strong conservation agenda coming from Maryland’s governor is a huge deal, especially following our previous governor, whose highest environmental score was a D+.”

 

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