FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3rd, 2016
Contact: Tiffany Hartung, Maryland Climate Coalition, O (443) 759-3402, C (248) 933-2451, hartungt@nwf.org
Annapolis, Md.—Yesterday Governor Hogan appointed Delegate Anthony O’Donnell to serve on the Maryland Public Service Commission.
In response, the Maryland Climate Coalition, released the following statement:
“Governor Hogan’s appointment of Delegate Anthony O’Donnell to the Public Service Commission is the latest in a troubling series of moves by Governor Hogan to undermine the expansion of renewable energy in Maryland, including the recent veto of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, and attacks on our state's landmark energy efficiency program (EmPOWER Maryland). In his past twelve years in office, Delegate O’Donnell has demonstrated strong opposition to expansion of offshore wind, the renewable portfolio standard, the EmPOWER Maryland program, and other programs likely to come before the Commission. Through his appointments, and his recent vetoes, Governor Hogan is sending a clear signal that Maryland is closed to business, when those businesses are aimed at reducing Maryland’s contribution to climate change, cleaning up Maryland’s air, and bringing thousands of new clean energy jobs to the State. He is instead, levying taxes on Marylanders' health and quality of life. The Governor may have endorsed a new greenhouse gas reduction goal for the state, but he appears to be undermining the fundamental programs we will use to meet that goal. We are deeply concerned by the short-sighted and dangerous approach by this administration to our economy and our environment.”
More Information:
- Delegate O'Donnell has voted against the following critical pieces of energy and environmental legislation: Maryland Health Air Act of 2006, EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008, and the establishment of the Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2004 and the expansion of the program in 2008, as well as legislation to allow offshore wind energy in both 2012 and 2013.
- The Clean Energy Jobs Act's increase to our renewable energy commitment was supported by over seventy percent of Marylanders and would have brought over a gigawatt of new renewable energy to the state and region and over a thousand new clean energy jobs.
- Eighty-four percent of Marylanders support expansion of energy efficiency programs like those under EmPOWER Maryland.
The Maryland Climate Coalition brings together environmental, faith, health, labor, and civic organizations to advance clean energy and climate policies in Maryland. For more information about the Maryland Climate Coalition, visit http://www.marylandclimatecoalition.org.