Progress is being made in Maryland. This week, in a bipartisan vote, Democrats and Republicans came together in the state’s Senate, and overwhelmingly supported a new bill that would require the state to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 40% over the next 15 years.
While the bill has yet to be taken up by the House of Delegates, government watchers anticipate the bill to pass. And the passage would be a winning move for the state. Cutting greenhouse gasses by implementing bold climate action plans is good for families and residents, and can boost local economies. Policy makers in Maryland expect the new policy to bring clean, well paying and stable jobs to the state. Investments in infrastructure and retrofitting will go a long way towards making Maryland a leader on climate change.
The actions of policy makers and community leaders in Maryland is an example for cities and states throughout the country. Find out how you can take part in advancing positive changes by visiting Path to Positive Communities!
Maryland Senate OKs new goal for reducing greenhouse gases
By Pamela Wood and Michael Dresser | The Baltimore Sun | February 23, 2016
Maryland's Senate on Tuesday approved a new goal and deadline for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
By a 38-8 vote, senators approved a bill that requires to state to cut its greenhouse gasses — such as carbon dioxide — by 40 percent by 2030. The goal uses 2006 as the baseline for measuring emissions.
The House of Delegates will hold a hearing on their version of the bill later this week.
All eight dissenting votes came from Republicans, even though the proposal was approved unanimously by Republican and Democrats on the Senate's Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
