Following Sine Die and the end of the 2024 legislative session, Maryland Sierra Club has released the following statement from Chapter Director Josh Tulkin:
Maryland has established itself as an innovative leader on climate and environmental issues. Maryland has committed to bold climate action, to 100 percent clean energy, and to sustainable transportation. While there were some notable victories this year, Maryland failed to take concrete steps to implement this vision.
First let’s start with the wins. This year, with a formidable coalition composed of dedicated advocacy groups, volunteers, and elected officials, we successfully helped pass reform for the EmPOWER program. One of many victories this legislative session, EmPOWER had been an ongoing campaign for two years, and now we eagerly await conversations with all involved parties on implementation.
Unfortunately, our other priority bills – the Transportation & Climate Alignment Act and the Maryland Bottle bill – did not make it across the finish line this session. However, we are thankful for the enormous support for these bills that formed in the public and in the legislature. Our work does not end here, and we will come back prepared for any challenges in 2025.
The 2024 legislative session, however, did not come without surprises. Last week, environmental groups across the state were dismayed to learn of an amendment in the state’s budget bill that stripped the state’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), a key provision of the Climate Solution Now Act (CSNA) of 2022. While we appreciate the additional effort to ensure that the final budget included important changes that will help raise funding for transportation, we are disheartened that the dismantling of BEPS was added.
We are disappointed that after all the energy legislators have put in passing environmentally progressive bills this session, there would be such a stark turn of events so close to the finish line. Most of all, we are disappointed and frustrated that this rollback occurred in darkness without information to the public.
We hope that the administration and general assembly leadership coordinate to put forward a clear, inspiring vision and strategy that puts Maryland on track to achieve its climate goals.
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