Media Contact: Emily Pomilio, 480.286.0401, emily.pomilio@sierraclub.org
Annapolis, M.D.--The Maryland General Assembly just passed the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and has subsequently sent the bill to the Governor’s desk for signature. The bill will accelerate the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50% by 2030, including a huge leap in solar energy combined with quadrupling the state’s commitment to offshore wind. Additionally, the bill will provide millions of dollars to workforce development programs, and require the state to create a plan and complete a robust analysis in order to accomplish the goal of Maryland going 100% clean energy by 2040.
In response, Josh Tulkin, Director of the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, released the following statement:
“Today the General Assembly made a significant step in clean energy investments and climate action. The Clean Energy Jobs Act requires major new commitments to new clean energy in Maryland, provides local, good-paying jobs to many through workforce development programs and helps the state transition away from harmful fossil fuels like coal.
“The bombshell Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report published in the fall of 2018 made it clear that at every level of government, business, and community, we need to act on climate as quickly and as aggressively as possible. Maryland is still home to six large coal-fired power plants, but this bill marks a moment in history for Maryland as it charts a more ambitious climate platform. We must continue to fight and push for more clean energy and fewer fossil fuels.
“The growth of clean energy under this bill is critical for Maryland’s fight against climate change, but we are disappointed that the bill allows a polluting technology like trash incineration to remain as a qualifying renewable resource and requires the state to study the potential role of nuclear energy in our clean energy program. We will continue to push for cleaning up our definition of renewable energy and ensure that our clean energy incentives are put toward new, additional, clean energy projects, not providing financial hand-outs to facilities that were online decades before the launch of the RPS.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.