Maryland can start to transition to a clean energy economy, stop global warming, and protect the environment with funding from President Obama’s proposed federal budget for 2010, according to a report released today by Environment Maryland.
“President Obama’s budget means a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for Maryland,” said Tommy Landers, Policy Advocate for Environment Maryland.
The report, Vision 2010: President Obama’s Budget, Clean Energy and the Environment, estimates the proportion of the president’s proposed Fiscal Year 2010 federal budget that would be used to transition to clean energy by requiring global warming polluters to pay, clean up toxic waste, prevent water pollution, and spur clean energy businesses in Maryland.
“As a Baltimore-based business owner, I applaud President Obama’s initiatives to promote a clean energy economy,” said Peter Van Buren, President of TerraLogos Green Home Services. “By investing in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, we simultaneously create a sound financial base of solid green jobs, reduce our unhealthy dependency on foreign oil, and initiate the changes necessary to ensure a sustainable future for our children.”
“We made the shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial one, and now we have another chance to make a monumental change in how we do business,” said Weyimi Ayu, President of Diaspora Development LLC. “Our company has taken up President Obama’s call to shift our focus to energy efficiency, and that is what our company is bringing to the table in the real estate field.”
"Our membership praises President Obama's budget and stimulus package because of the jobs it will create. The Laborers are doing our part by putting in place home and weatherization building training programs all over the region to assist contractors in staffing jobs up with highly qualified labor that have health benefits for them and their families. This is an historic opportunity not only to save families on their electric bills but also create jobs and conserve energy," said Dennis Martire, Laborers International Union Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager.
Environment Maryland presented a map highlighting locations of clean energy industries that could benefit from the $150 billion over 10 years that President Obama’s budget would invest nationally in renewable energy such as wind and solar. The proposed budget sets the stage for a new energy plan for America that caps global warming pollution and drives the transformation to a clean energy economy. The map and report illustrated the following benefits for Maryland:
• $12 billion over 10 years from making polluters pay for global warming pollution, if the revenues are apportioned by population;
• $730 million in Maryland taxpayer dollars that will no longer subsidize profits for Big Oil;
• 21 sewage treatment plants that exceeded clean water permits in 2005 could be eligible for a statewide total of $48.2 in funding for repairs and upgrades; and
• 6 toxic waste sites could see accelerated clean up from reinstatement of a polluter pays fee expected to generate $17.2 billion in revenues over 10 years.
Environment Maryland pointed out that the latest global warming science means even deeper cuts in pollution in the next 10 years than the ones in the president’s budget will be required to prevent the most catastrophic warming. “Capping global warming pollution to the extent needed and ensuring that polluters pay is the right move for our environment and our economy but even this first step will face roadblocks from polluting interests,” said Landers.
“As we approach Earth Day, Congress needs to hear from clean energy business and labor leaders, mayors and mothers, and all people who know the time to transition to a clean energy economy, protect our environment, and stop global warming is now,” concluded Landers.
The report can be found online here:
http://www.environmentmaryland.org/reports/other-issues/other-issues/vision-2010-president-obamas-budget-clean-energy--the-environment
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Environment-Maryland---RELEASE---Visions-2010-Report.pdf