Global Warming Campaign News

Jobs and the Economy

Global warming is the greatest environmental challenge of our time, but it could also be the driving force to stimulate productive investment in clean energy and smart transportation industries.  The things we do to address global warming will have immediate benfits to the state - creating jobs, loweing costs to consumers and businesses through reducing our energy use, making our power system more reliable, and pushing us to get serious about smart growth.

Maryland Has Many Natural Strengths

Maryland can cash in on the clean energy revolution.  We have a well educated workforce.  We have top notch research institutions.  We are close to the national capital and therefore get a lot of federal grants.

We should build on our strengths and help clean energy industries thrive in our state.  We can develop expertise that we sell to other states.

Setting a Precedent

Policies to address global warming are being debated in national and international forums, but they will take time.  Maryland can be a leader, raising the bar for other regions.  Even though our commitments under this bill would not kick in for several years, they would push other regions to make commitments.

Equivalent bills have already passed in six states and are moving forward in others.  Strong state action will lead to strong federal and international action.

Maryland will also have a better seat at the table as national policy is debated if we have already begun implementing our commitment to reducing pollution.  Our experts will be consulted.  Our congressional delegation will have more say.  We can ensure that the rules are written in a way that makes sense for Maryland.

Assurances for Industry

There are assurances for manufacturers in this year’s bill, and that was an easy update to make.  We never expected manufacturing emissions to be in the first round of programs in Maryland.  There is so much low-hanging fruit that we can get to 25% pollution reduction by 2020 without impacting manufacturers.  This year, we’ve built some provisions into the bill to make sure it doesn’t have unintended consequences.  But that’s not what this legislation is about.  This is about creating jobs and boosting the economy by charting a course for our transition into an economy centered on clean energy and smart transportation.

Also, the federal government has some tools that Maryland doesn’t have to offset the impacts of including manufacturers in global warming policy.  We expect that federal legislation will include import tariffs, so that if costs go up for American manufacturers, foreign manufacturers will see the same impact.

Meeting the Environmental Challenge

The environmental benefits of the bill are obvious, but we should focus equally on the economic benefits. Clean energy is the match made in heaven between protecting the environment and boosting our economy.

Controlling global warming pollution is a reality for the future.  The days are over when we can emit carbon dioxide without limits and pretend it’s not pollution.  The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to make the transition.  Maryland should stay ahead of the curve.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act is the best way to create plans that transition the state into a low-emission future, strengthening the economy and protecting the environment at the same time.

Leadership Made It Happen

Gov. O’Malley deserves enormous credit for including this bill among his priorities.  Here’s a governor who really gets it.  Gov. O’Malley understands the opportunity of boosting our economy through clean energy.  The Maryland Department of the Environment has put in countless hours overseeing the Commission on Climate Change and the stakeholder negotiations.

We also wouldn’t be where we are today without the incredible leadership of the bill’s primary legislative sponsors, Sen. Paul Pinsky and Del. Kumar Barve. 

I look forward to working with them to make Maryland a leader.