Global Warming Campaign News

One hundred forty people from across the state gathered today to show their support for clean energy in Maryland.  Thanks to its progressive energy policies, Maryland is recognized as a national leader in cutting global warming pollution and promoting clean energy.  However, two proposals to build new high-voltage, interstate transmission lines threaten to derail the state’s progress toward a clean energy future.

“These transmission lines are nothing more than extension cords connecting Maryland to more dirty energy sources,” said Brad Heavner, state director of Environment Maryland.  “At a time when Maryland needs to be investing aggressively in clean energy in order to meet the pollution reduction goals we've laid out, these power lines are a giant step in the wrong direction.”

Most of the electricity piped into Maryland through the proposed Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP) and Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) power lines would originate from coal-burning power plants outside the state.  The dirty energy coming into Maryland via the proposed PATH line would originate from West Virginia’s John Amos coal plant, one of the top ten dirtiest plants in the entire nation. 

“As scientists and world leaders are urging us to reduce emissions, we should only be considering renewable energy and energy efficiency as solutions to our energy needs,” said Alana Wase, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club.  “These transmission lines are the exact opposite of an energy solution for Maryland.  The PATH proposal alone is estimated to cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions of between 3.75 and 7.79 million tons a year, the equivalent of adding 25% more cars to Maryland’s roads.”

Increased demand for coal power would exacerbate the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining.  Mountaintop removal is a devastating form of mining widely practiced in Appalachia in which the tops off mountains are blasted off in order to reach the coal below.  The toxic mining waste is dumped into the surrounding valleys and streams, causing further environmental harm. 

The power lines would not only be environmentally destructive, but would also cost ratepayers roughly $3 billion.

Speakers at the rally urged Maryland to move beyond coal, highlighting the state’s abundant offshore wind resources and energy efficiency retrofitting as cost-effective alternatives that

would keep Maryland on track to meet its pollution reduction goals.

“If we don’t act now, we will squander a once in a lifetime opportunity to create jobs and rebuild our culture through sustainable energy,” said Lewis Evans, LEED GA certified, CEO of Solar Resources International Inc, a clean energy contractor located in Baltimore.

Peter Van Buren, President of the Baltimore-based energy auditing and contracting company TerraLogos Energy Group, stated that clean energy businesses "…have proven that cost-effective energy improvements can make a huge impact on our energy situation.  Efficiency should be our first fuel since it provides clean kilowatt-hours at the least cost – in fact, investments in energy efficiency pay for themselves in utility bill savings…In addition, investing in energy efficiency creates high paying local jobs that cannot be outsourced.  Fund clean efficiency, not more dirty coal."

Zainab Boone-Kukoyi, a student at Coppin State University and a member of the Maryland Student Climate Coalition who spoke at the rally, emphasized the dirty legacy new investments in coal will leave for future generations.  “How many more species have to die, how many more people have to get sick before a change is made?” Boone-Kukoyi asked.  “This is not the legacy I want to leave to my kids and grandkids.  Let’s find alternatives to our deadly habit of burning coal.”

The rally comes less than two weeks before international climate talks are scheduled to begin in Copenhagen. World leaders will gather in the Danish capital to try to hash out an international agreement to limit global warming pollution. Many at the rally said they hoped Maryland could continue to serve as an example as the world debates how to curb global warming pollution and not be sidetracked by these dirty power lines. 

“Maryland passed the strongest statewide cap on carbon in the entire country earlier this year,” said Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.  “By passing the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act, we committed to visionary goals that will create thousands of new jobs in Maryland and we need to make sure we are on course to achieve those goals.  Clearly, new investments in dirty energy would take us backwards.”

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Act, passed this year, requires Maryland to cut greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. 

“Clean energy is extremely important to the state of Maryland.  We have worked hard to change our laws to encourage the development of clean energy,” said Delegate Barbara Frush (D-21).  “We will continue fighting attempts to overturn this progress towards smart energy solutions.”

Participants called on Governor O’Malley to publicly oppose the planned MAPP and PATH power lines.