Maryland’s global warming pollution declined by 6% percent since 2004, the year in which pollution levels began to peak in many states, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Maryland.
"The transition to clean energy is a marathon, and we’ve just laced up our sneakers," said Environment Maryland Field Associate Mike Sherling. "It’s time to take back control of our energy future. By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs," he continued.
For decades, America's use of fossil fuels – and the global warming pollution that results – has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country. For Maryland, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is the rising waters of the Chesapeake Bay, which will damage already fragile ecosystems and flood our cities. The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.
The new report, Too Much Pollution: State and National Trends in Global Warming Emissions from 1990 to 2007, uses the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy on fossil fuel consumption by state to look at trends in carbon dioxide emissions. The key findings include the following:
- Maryland’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption declined by 6 percent between 2004 and 2007, reversing a decades-long trend toward increasing pollution.
- In Maryland, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation declined by 2 percent from 2004 to 2007, as the state moved from highly polluting oil to cleaner forms of electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning oil for electricity dropped by 77 percent.
- Nationally, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 19 percent between 1990 and 2007. Power plants and vehicles, the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, were responsible for the lion’s share of the increase.
"We have paved the way for renewables such as solar to be installed in southern Maryland, and we only expect demand to increase," said Shannon Schmidt of Solar Tech Inc. "Everyone should have a right to clean electricity, and with renewable technologies like solar power, Maryland will continue to reduce its carbon pollution."
In total, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007 – before the onset of the economic recession. The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions – and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side. For instance, four Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York – cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.
"We can drive the economy without driving up pollution. By moving to clean energy, we can cut pollution, help jump-start the economy, and create millions of new clean energy jobs across the country," said Sherling.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is an excellent example of this. The new Goodpaster Hall, one of part of the school’s many environmental initiatives, is designed and built to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment through energy efficiency, the use of recycled or renewable building materials, and a reduction of the building’s effect on the surrounding land and water.
"St. Mary's College of Maryland reduced CO2 emissions by 80 percent this year thanks to numerous environmental initiatives around campus. I am proud to say that the largest percentage was the result of student led actions," said Shane Hall, Environmental Fellow at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
The Environment Maryland report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by states by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries. The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer. In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require coal plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified.
Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the transition to clean energy. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent at least $45 million dollars last year alone – more than $120,000 a day – on lobbyists and advertising on energy. Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.
"The coal industry has proven themselves willing to do or say virtually anything to block progress," said Sherling.
"We thank Senator Mikulski for her leadership on clean energy. We’re counting on her to ensure that the Senate passes an energy bill that requires old, clunker coal plants to meet modern standards for global warming pollution so we can finally move to clean energy, like wind and solar power. We urge the EPA to finalize its rule to cut global warming pollution from coal plants," said Sherling.
The report is available online:
http://www.environmentmaryland.org/reports/global-warming/global-warming-program-reports/too-much-pollution-state-and-national-trends-in-global-warming-emissions-from-1990-to-2007
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