Emily Pomilio (480) 286-0401, emily.pomilio@sierraclub.org
Baltimore, M.D. —In conjunction with the House of Delegates earlier this week, the Maryland State Senate voted today to override Governor Hogan’s veto of the Clean Energy Jobs Act. The bill, which was vetoed last May, will increase and accelerate the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirement from 20 percent by 2022 to 25 percent by 2020 ensuring more homes and businesses benefit from renewable energy across the state and region.
The Maryland Climate Coalition projected an increase in the RPS will result in an additional 250 MW of solar energy in the state and over 1,000 MW of additional renewable energy in the region. The bill also opens the door for growth in the clean energy economy by spurring new jobs and allowing the state’s Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Account to receive funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund.
In response, David Smedick, Maryland Beyond Coal Campaign and Policy Representative for the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
"The votes this week in Annapolis proved Maryland's commitment to act on climate change. Our state overwhelmingly supports clean energy and government leadership to make it happen. With the Clean Energy Jobs Act, we will see more renewable energy on the grid, more solar installers working across the state and less pollution from dirty coal plants.
In the current face of fear, uncertainty, and at times outright denial of environmental problems at the federal level, the Clean Energy Jobs Act proves that states like Maryland will not remain quiet on our country's toughest challenges like climate change."
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