Real Results For Maryland's Environment

Reducing Global Warming Pollution

In 2009, we led the charge in Annapolis to win a requirement that Maryland reduce its total statewide global warming pollution 25 percent by 2020, with firm deadlines to get clean energy and smart transportation policies in place quickly.

The Stormwater Management Act

New development increases polluted runoff that washes off parking lots, roofs and roads, damaging streams and polluting the Bay. But in 2007, we pushed the Legislature to pass the Stormwater Management Act. The bill sets higher standards for new development, helping protect our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay shoreline

Our action and the O’Malley administration’s support led to the General Assembly passing legislation in 2008 to update the Critical Areas Act. The new law increases enforcement, closes loopholes, and expands the protective buffer zone around the shoreline.

Mercury disposal and warnings

In 2004, we cut the amount of mercury that will be released into our environment, and helped protect public health by requiring  businesses using large quantities of mercury to take extra precautions during its disposal. We also helped improve warnings on the risks of eating contaminated fish.

Cleaner cars for Maryland

Our action to bring cleaner cars to Maryland will reduce carbon dioxide pollution 4.4 million tons by 2020, as well as reduce emissions of smog-forming and cancer-causing pollutants.

Solar energy standard

We helped Maryland achieve the third-strongest solar power law in the nation when, in 2007, the Legislature passed a renewable energy standard that will require 2 percent of Maryland’s energy to come from solar power by 2022.

Clean up dirty power

With the passage of the Healthy Air Act, the nation’s toughest law limiting pollution from power plants, we helped require Maryland’s six dirtiest power plants to reduce the pollution that causes smog, soot, global warming, mercury contamination in fish, and the dead zone in the Bay.

Clean energy laws

We helped increase Maryland’s use of renewable energy and establish new standards for energy efficiency. Ultimately, this action was aimed at cutting the amount of pollution that coal-burning power plants contribute to global warming and asthma.

Program Open Space funding

We protected Maryland’s treasured open spaces by helping convince the governor to appropriate more than $600 million to Program Open Space over the past three years.

Toxic chemical phase-outs

We protected the overall health of our environment and communities by winning passage of a new law to stop companies from using dangerous chemicals in foam cushions that can damage the nervous systems of young children.

Electronic waste recycling program

We helped develop and pass legislation directing the Maryland Department of the Environment to establish an “electronics take-back” program to reduce the number of computers and other pieces of electronic waste entering landfills and the environment.