For Immediate Release:
April 4th, 2024
Press Contact: Lesley Paredes, lesley.paredes-hernandez@sierraclub.org; (240) 424-0976
Annapolis, MD – The General Assembly this afternoon reached a budget deal detailing the fiscal plan for the state for the upcoming years. The deal includes significant steps to close the transportation funding gap. However, the deal also included an amendment that significantly weakens a key pillar of the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. While appearing to be an innocuous reporting provision, the language would actually require the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to withdraw the proposed regulation, delay implementation for up to a year, and restrict MDE from meeting a statutory deadline established by the Climate Solutions Now Act just 2 years ago, while directing them to undertake new studies without providing any additional staffing or funding. Furthermore, urgently needed “site energy use intensity” (EUI) provisions would be delayed at least until after 2026 after further reporting. The EUI provisions are necessary to ensure that electrification is achieved within an energy efficiency framework, reducing the impact on our grid and protecting low-income tenants.
In response today’s budget deal announcement, Maryland Sierra Club Director Josh Tulkin has released the following statement:
The Sierra Club is encouraged to see progress towards funding critical transportation needs, though there is still much work to do to address the $3.15 billion transportation funding gap and build new projects like the Baltimore Red Line.
However, we are alarmed that the Maryland General Assembly used the opaque, last-minute budget process to weaken and delay one of Maryland’s landmark climate programs, the Climate Solutions Now Act.
The Budget Conference Committee’s backroom dealing and resulting amendment (U00AA07.01) to delay and weaken building energy performance standards (BEPS) erodes public confidence and throws into question Maryland’s commitment to being a leader in addressing the climate crisis.
The regulation impacted by the amendment is the result of two years of transparent public engagement and rule-making, including collaboration between the administration, advocates, stakeholders, and experts. This policy was recommended by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, passed into law, endorsed by the state climate action plan, and approved by the Air Quality Citizens Advisory Committee.
The decision to walk back a regulation with this level of consequence must be made with the appropriate process rather than through last-minute, backroom deals. We expect more from our leaders in the legislature and ask that this harmful budget amendment be dropped. We stand ready to support a process that upholds the Climate Solutions Now Act and associated commitments and will not undo the important progress we have made thus far.
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