At midnight on April 7, the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned. Thanks to you, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund was successful in keeping the environment front and center for lawmakers.

Download our press release:  April 8 Session Press Release 31.88 Kb

In the News:

Baltimore Sun Editorial: State legislature adopts an environmental ethos

Washington Times: Session wraps up on a green note

This session, we made major strides in increasing energy efficiency and protecting our shorelines and the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland LCV Education Fund was very pleased to have the strong support of the O’Malley Administration, which introduced legislation addressing three of our environmental priorities and fought for the Global Warming Solutions Act. 

Each of the priority bills that passed this year is significant in its own right; to have passed them all in a single legislative session is a big victory. This year, environmentalists had an ambitious agenda and we are glad our negotiations resulted in such strong legislation.

Unfortunately, by not passing the Global Warming Solutions Act, the General Assembly missed a huge opportunity to put Maryland at the forefront of a “green” economy solution to a problem that’s not going away. They also let down tens of thousands of Marylanders from all different walks of life – including business leaders, faith communities, students, labor groups, and health advocates – who have been demanding action on this important issue.

Thank you for all of your work to help Maryland LCV Education Fund connect conservation minded voters to critical decisions being made in Annapolis. Your emails, phone calls, and visits to elected officials as well as your attendance at environmental rallies in Annapolis helped us make our presence known. 

Below you will find more details on these bills as well as other important environmental initiatives during the 2008 legislative session: 

Global Warming Solutions Act (SB 309/ HB 712) 
Global warming is the greatest environmental challenge of our time. Everything we do to address global warming will have immediate benefits to the state – creating jobs, lowering costs to consumers and businesses through energy efficiency upgrades, and making our power system more reliable by diversifying our energy sources. 

SB 309/HB 712 was introduced as the strongest, most comprehensive global warming legislation of any state in the nation, setting carbon reduction caps of 25% by 2020 and 90% by 2050. 

Unfortunately, the bill was weakened by a “poison pill” amendment on the Senate floor. Debate on the bill continued into the closing hours of the session when it was ultimately killed in the House Economic Matters committee.

Energy Efficiency


EmPOWER Maryland: (SB 205/HB 374) codifies Governor O’Malley’s goal to reduce statewide per-capita electricity consumption and peak demand by 15 percent by 2015. Utility companies will be responsible for 10 percent of the savings with the Maryland Energy Administration providing the other 5 percent. The bill will save Marylanders $4.1 billion in energy savings by 2020 and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.   

RGGI - Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program (SB 268/HB 368):  SB 268/HB 368 gives the Maryland Energy Administration the resources to offer energy efficiency services to underserved markets that utility companies are not addressing. The fund will be financed through the upcoming sale of carbon allowances to power plants as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which Maryland joined as part of the 2006 Healthy Air Act.

Renewable Portfolio Standards:  SB 209/HB 375 increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 9.5 percent to 20 percent, which would increase the amount of clean, renewable energy used in Maryland. This will make our electricity system more reliable by diversifying our energy sources; it will also promote economic development while limiting greenhouse gas pollution. 

Solar and Geothermal Tax Incentive and Grant Program:  SB 207/HB 377  expands the Solar Grant program. This program has been successful in urging consumers to install small-scale solar and geothermal projects at home.  Increasing our use of clean, renewable energy like solar and geothermal is necessary in curbing global warming.

All of these bills were approved by the General Assembly and have been sent to the governor for his signature.


Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund (SB 213/ HB 369)
The Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund will allow Maryland to significantly increase its ability to meet the goals outlined in the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. HB 369/SB 213 will implement the $50 million trust fund approved in the fall 2007 special session. HB 369 was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.

Unfortunately, Maryland’s dim economic outlook prompted the General Assembly to cut $25 million from the Bay Trust Fund in the budget bill for its first year.


Critical Area Reform (SB 844 / HB 1253)
This bill revises the Critical Area Act and provides the Critical Area Commission with the tools it needs to better administer and enforce the law. Limiting development through the enhanced protection of critical buffers will result in reduced sediment and contaminated runoff, cleaner water, and improved habitat for the Bay's fish and crabs. HB 1253 was approved by the General Assembly with acceptable amendments and has been sent to the governor.

Intercounty Connector 
The Intercounty Connector (ICC) would cost the state nearly $3 billion and cause tremendous environmental harm. HB 1471 would have eliminated funding for the Intercounty Connector. HB 1416 would have required an impact study on ICC’s impacts on global warming. HB 1595 would have halted the ICC while impacts on global warming and air pollution were studied. All three bills died in committee. 
 
Smart Growth
SB 204/HB 373 implements Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), which is a critical part of the solution to curb global warming. TOD makes best use of transit investment, creates places where more daily trips can be done without driving, more efficiently uses land resources, and is a cornerstone of Maryland’s smart growth efforts. SB 204 was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor. 

SB 206/HB 366 would establish Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-related development zones to steer growth to locations convenient to mass transit and encourage mixed-use development for more focused growth. SB 206 was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.


Program Open Space
In his 2009 fiscal year budget, Governor O’Malley maintained full funding for Program Open Space (POS), and the legislature approved the budget.

SB 259 would increase the percentage of local POS funds that can be used for park development from the current 75 percent to 100 percent once local land acquisition goals have been met. This bill was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor. 

SB 662 will impose a surcharge to the Agriculture Land Transfer Tax providing funds for Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development to implement The Next Generation Farmland Program and the Installment Purchase Agreement Program. This would further the state’s strategic land preservation goal. The bill was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor. 

Other Important Bills:

Green Buildings:  SB 208/HB 376 require high performance buildings for new construction and renovation projects using state funds.  High performance buildings allow for significant reductions in energy and water use. SB 208 was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.

Bay Restoration Fund: HB 581 clarifies the uses of the “flush tax” in certain community septic projects. The bill was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.

Phosphorous Reduction: SB 710/HB 1189 delays the implementation date of the phosphorus ban passed in 2007. A delay of just six months will add 7.5 tons of phosphorus to our waterways. This was the one major anti-environment piece of legislation to pass this session.

Mercury Switch Removal: HB 835 would require the removal and recycling of vehicle switches containing mercury to reduce a sizable source of mercury in Maryland. This bill passed the House of Delegates but died in the Senate committee.

Clean Air Permit Fees: SB 442 increases the emissions-based permit fee; this fee is critical to funding the Maryland Clean Air Fund, which is used to pay for programs mandated under the Clean Air Act. This bill was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.

Standing: There were a number of bills introduced to expand citizens’ rights in the courts to challenge bad environmental decisions. HB 1341 was the predominant bill among these, but the bill died in committee.

Lead Paint:  HB 1241 would have held manufacturers responsible for marketing toxic paint that contributes to lead poisoning in children. The bill died in the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee.

Wetlands and Waterways Permit Fees:  HB 1056 creates a fund to support the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Wetlands and Waterways programs and allows the agency to return to staffing levels necessary to carry out and enforce this critical program. This bill was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor.