2008 Legislative Roundup

 

Victories for the Environment 

 

Energy and Global Warming

Renewable Energy Standard (SB 209/HB 375 – Administration)

More than doubles Maryland’s renewable energy standard.  Requires that 20 percent of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2022.

Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SB 268/HB 368 – Administration)

Creates an estimated $40 million per year for clean energy programs.

EmPower Maryland (SB 205/HB 374 – Administration)

Requires utilities to manage energy efficiency programs that reduce per capita electricity consumption 10 percent by 2015.

Solar Grants (SB 207/377 – Administration)

Increases the maximum grant from the solar energy grant program to $10,000 for solar panels and $3,000 for solar hot water systems.

Solar Access (HB 117 – Hecht)

Clarifies that residential communities cannot prohibit the installation of solar panels.

Green Buildings (SB 208/HB 376 – Administration)

Requires new state buildings and public schools to be built according to “LEED Silver” green building standards.

Clean Energy Center (HB 1337 – Stein)

Creates a center to help develop the clean energy industry in Maryland.

Biodiesel Home Heating Oil (SB 565 – Garagiola)

Creates an income tax credit for homeowners who use biodiesel as home heating oil.

Air Permit Fees (SB 442 – Frosh)

Increases the permit fees for air pollution to fund enforcement activities at the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Water Quality and Chesapeake Bay

Critical Area Reform (HB 844/SB 1253 – Administration)

Updates the law limiting development along the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay to close loopholes and increase enforcement.

Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund (SB 213/HB 369 – Administration)

Creates programs to reduce runoff pollution from farms and cities that flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

Wetlands Fee (HB 1056 – George)

Requires developers building in shoreline areas to pay fees that fund work at the Maryland Department of the Environment to minimize damage to wetlands.

Smart Growth and Transportation

BRAC Community Enhancement (SB 206/HB 366 – Administration)

Creates grants for smart growth projects near military base expansions.

Transit-Oriented Development (SB 204/HB 373 – Administration)

Boosts programs at the Maryland Department of Transportation to promote development centered around transit stations.

Defeats for the Environment

 

Clean Energy and Global Warming

Global Warming Solutions Act (SB 309/HB 712 – Pinsky/Barve)

Would have created timelines for adopting clean energy policies and established a cap on global warming pollution in the state.

ICC Global Warming Impacts (HB 1416 – Stein)

Would have halted construction of the Intercounty Connector pending an analysis of the highway’s global warming pollution impacts.

Water Quality and Chesapeake Bay

Fertilizer Fee (HB 466 – Kullen)

Would have established a fee on fertilizer to fund programs to reduce pollution going into the Chesapeake Bay.

Fly Ash (HB 388 – McConkey)

Would have required that all coal ash disposal sites be constructed with a liner sufficient to reduce groundwater contamination.

Phosphate Ban Delay (SB 710/HB 1189 – Lenett/Niemann) Oppose

Delays the ban on phosphates in dishwashing detergent.

Stormwater Task Force (HB 307 – Costa)

Would have created a task force to study policies to reduce runoff pollution from cities and suburbs.

Mercury Switch Disposal (HB 835 – Hucker)

Would have required automakers to pay for the removal of devices that contain mercury when cars are scrapped.

Smart Growth and Transportation

Cut ICC Funding (HB 1471 – Frush)

Would have cut the funding for the Intercounty Connector.