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A note from Executive Director, Kim Coble

A note from Executive Director, Kim Coble on Abell Foundation Report

Maryland was once a leader in addressing climate but has fallen behind other states, including Massachusetts. Now, the Abell Foundation has issued an important new report that outlines steps Maryland must take “…to re-establish itself as a national leader as it responds to the repercussions of a warming climate.” 

We urge you to take a look at the Abell Foundation’s report, Turning Up the Heat on Cooling Down the Planet: Comparing the Climate Leadership Actions of Maryland and Massachusetts. And if you haven’t already, please consider also reviewing Maryland LCV’s recently released Governor’s Report Card and 2021 Environmental Scorecard. These scorecards outline in detail the inadequate response of our elected leaders to the climate crisis. Along with the Abell Foundation’s report, they provide a clarion call to Maryland’s politicians to act urgently to meet today’s climate challenges. 

I hope you will enjoy these reports and share them widely with your networks. The 2022 legislative session and our state-wides elections are just around the corner. Now is the time to call for Maryland’s elected officials to do more to meaningfully combat the climate crisis and protect our environmental health. 

As always, thank you for your support. We look forward to continuing to work with you on behalf of Maryland’s land, air, water, and communities.

Sincerely, 

Kim Coble

The post A note from Executive Director, Kim Coble appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2023-01-03T14:54:50-05:00December 3rd, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on A note from Executive Director, Kim Coble

Congressman David Trone, Interior Secretary Haaland to Visit National Parks, and Host Roundtable Focused on Climate Change and Environmental Justice

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov

Congressman David Trone, Interior Secretary Haaland to Visit National Parks, and Host Roundtable Focused on Climate Change and Environmental Justice

On Monday, November 29, 2021, Congressman David Trone and U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will visit Maryland’s Sixth District to tour the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

The visit will highlight infrastructure and the Build Back Better agenda, especially as it relates to climate change and equity. The visit will close with a roundtable discussion with environmental justice groups focused on how climate change adversely affects underserved communities.

This visit comes on the heels of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s passage, and the U.S. House’s passage of the Build Back Better Act last week.

This is the Secretary’s first visit to Maryland’s Sixth District with Congressman Trone.

If you are interested in attending one or more events, please RSVP to Sasha Galbreath at Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov to get specific information (e.g., location) about the event(s).

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION: Monday Nov 29

Details are subject to change

9:00am – 10:15am – Visit to C&O Canal

(10:00AM-10:15AM PRESS AVAIL)

Where: C&O Canal

What: Park Superintendent Tina Cappetta will take Sec. Haaland and Rep. Trone on a tour of the Cushwa Basin and the recently-restored Conococheague Aqueduct.

12:45pm – 2:15pm – Climate Change and Environmental Justice Roundtable

(1:45PM-2:15PM PRESS AVAIL)

Where: Rockville, Maryland

What: Rep. Trone will host Sec. Haaland for a roundtable with Maryland environmental groups focused on climate change and its impact on underserved communities.

Roundtable participants include:

  • Ramon Palencia-Calvo, Deputy Executive Director, Maryland League of Conservation Voters
  • Jennifer Driban,Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, National Aquarium
  • Curtis Bennett,Director of Equity and Community Engagement, National Aquarium
  • Tianna Bogart,Associate Professor, Frostburg State University Climate Science Studies
  • Josh Tulkin, State Director, Maryland Sierra Club
  • Dana Johnson, Senior Director of Strategy and Federal Policy, We ACT for Environmental Justice
  • Keisha Sedlacek,Federal Legislative and Policy Attorney, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
  • Keith Colston, Director, Ethnic Commissions, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives
  • Lisa Tissley,Communications Specialist, Maryland Department of the Environment (On behalf of the MDE Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities)

The post Congressman David Trone, Interior Secretary Haaland to Visit National Parks, and Host Roundtable Focused on Climate Change and Environmental Justice appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-11-29T12:50:51-05:00November 29th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Congressman David Trone, Interior Secretary Haaland to Visit National Parks, and Host Roundtable Focused on Climate Change and Environmental Justice

Maryland League of Conservation Voters hails House passage of Biden Build Back Better bill, calls for swift Senate action

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2021
Contact: Dannielle Lipinski

Maryland League of Conservation Voters hails House passage of Biden Build Back Better bill, calls for swift Senate action

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Kim Coble issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of President Biden’s landmark Build Back Better Act:

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward realizing President Biden’s vision of a clean energy future by voting to pass the transformative Build Back Better Act. This legislation is essential to addressing our climate crisis, protecting the Chesapeake Bay, and it would invest more than a half trillion dollars to cut carbon pollution and expand clean, renewable energy. 

It will address generations of systemic racism and environmental inequity by investing billions of dollars removing lead water pipes, cleaning up toxic Superfund sites and creating pathways to good-paying, clean energy careers in underserved communities and communities of color through a new Civilian Conservation Corps. 

Maryland LCV would like to thank every Democratic member of our congressional delegation for working to move this transformative bill out of the House, and we call on the Senate to take quick action. We must meet this historic moment by getting Build Back Better to President Biden’s desk to build a more equitable and sustainable 21st century economy that can power us into a more prosperous future. 

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Maryland League of Conservation Voters is a state-wide, nonpartisan organization that uses political action and education to protect our  land, air, water and communities. The organization is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Maryland LCV’s annual scorecard, along with their other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Maryland League of Conservation Voters hails House passage of Biden Build Back Better bill, calls for swift Senate action appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-11-19T10:24:27-05:00November 19th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Maryland League of Conservation Voters hails House passage of Biden Build Back Better bill, calls for swift Senate action

Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis Drags Down Scores for Governor Hogan and Maryland General Assembly in 2021 Scorecards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2021

Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis Drags Down Scores for Governor Hogan and Maryland General Assembly in 2021 Scorecards

 

Annapolis, MD — Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly were called out for their poor response to growing climate threats in the new report cards issued by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV). 

The Governor’s Report Card [link], which assessed Governor Hogan’s environmental legacy between 2015 and 2021, reflected a mixed record marked by inconsistent environmental leadership and a failure to adequately staff environmental compliance offices. Hogan gets higher marks for his energy policy, especially where he supported legislative actions.

“The threats from climate change are accelerating globally, and Maryland is particularly vulnerable because we have 265,000 acres of land less than five feet above sea level,” said Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble. “Marylanders want the state to take aggressive action on climate change, and Governor Hogan’s inconsistent leadership on climate, especially in the transportation sector, as well as a poor record on enforcement, unfortunately overshadows positive environmental steps his administration took over the past seven years.”

The Governor’s Report Card reviews in detail the environmental actions taken by the Hogan administration from 2015 to date, including controversies around highway expansion and public transportation, offshore wind development near Ocean City, various pipeline proposals, and efforts to protect open space and oyster fisheries. 

Maryland LCV’s legislative Environmental Scorecard [link] assesses the performance of each of the legislative chambers and also gives individual scores to all legislators based on their votes or inaction on priority environmental issues over the past year’s legislative session, with a particular focus on climate and environmental justice issues.

The report found that the legislature’s most notable failure, for the second year in a row, was its inability to successfully pass comprehensive climate legislation during the 2020-2021 legislative session. Their efforts elsewhere, however, were more positive.

The Climate Solutions Now Act, comprehensive legislation that would have set an ambitious statewide carbon emissions reduction goal, passed both chambers during the session. However, legislators’ inability to resolve policy disagreements prevented the bill from reaching the Governor’s desk.

“As our planet warms, our communities suffer while our elected officials fail to advance meaningful climate policy,” said Coble. “We are seeing more frequent heat waves and intense storms, and direct results in nuisance flooding in our communities and more code red pollution days. Climate change affects all of us, but our low-wealth communities and Black and Brown communities are at particular risk, bearing the brunt of these effects now. In the face of these threats, it is simply unacceptable that our legislators, once again, were not able to take meaningful action to address the climate crisis.” 

Coble applauded, however, the passage of the Transit Safety and Investment Act, as well as the Zero-Emission Bus Transition Act. “These two bills take meaningful steps to enhance the health and economy of our students, seniors, low-wealth Marylander, and a significant number of health care workers who rely on public transportation in their everyday lives.  We applaud these important legislative accomplishments.”  Governor Hogan vetoed the Transit Safety and Investment Act. “The commitment of the legislature to this issue is a stark contrast to the actions of the Governor. We look forward to an override of this veto.”

The full Environmental Scorecard also gives scores to individual legislators and breaks out their votes for each of the state’s regions. Both the Governor’s Report Card and the legislative Environmental Scorecard, as well as the legislative lifetime scores, can be viewed at Maryland LCV’s website at www.MDLCV.org

“We acknowledge and are grateful for Governor Hogan, delegates, senators, and their staff’s hard work and leadership as the state has faced tremendous challenges over the past two years from COVID-19 and other national concerns, ” said Coble. “But in the final analysis, all Marylanders should be disappointed that we have still not taken significant steps to make Maryland more resilient to climate change impacts that we are already facing. And when election season rolls around, we need to make it a priority that Maryland becomes a leader in achieving equitable climate solutions.”

To respond more effectively to the climate crisis, Coble outlined key steps for legislators and the next administration, including: 

  • Prioritizing reductions from the two largest sources of  greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Maryland–buildings and transportation–by ensuring state buildings and transportation systems (including transit systems, school buses, vehicles, and trucks) are at “net zero” emissions by 2040 and infrastructure spending supports the state’s GHG reduction commitment; 
  • Addressing the disproportionate impact from GHG emissions on low-wealth communities, many of which are Black and Brown communities, by ensuring the meaningful  participation of impacted community members in funding and environmental justice decisions; 
  • Responding and adapting to and mitigating climate impacts should be seen as top priorities for state leaders, as evidenced by budget and procurement allocation and a cabinet-level Climate Office. 

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Maryland League of Conservation Voters is a state-wide, nonpartisan organization that uses political action and education to protect our  land, air, water and communities. The organization is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Maryland LCV’s annual scorecard, along with their other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis Drags Down Scores for Governor Hogan and Maryland General Assembly in 2021 Scorecards appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-11-18T15:33:39-05:00November 18th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis Drags Down Scores for Governor Hogan and Maryland General Assembly in 2021 Scorecards

Maryland LCV Presents 2021 Legislative Environmental Scorecard and 7-year Report Card for Governor Hogan

PRESS ADVISORY
November 16, 2021

Contact: Dannielle Lipinski, dlipinski@mdlcv.org

Thursday, November 18 at 12pm:
Maryland LCV Presents 2021 Legislative Environmental Scorecard and
7-year Report Card for Governor Hogan

Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis Drags Down Scores for Governor Hogan and Maryland General Assembly

Annapolis, MD — On November 18 at 12pm join Maryland LCV as they present their signature annual legislative environmental scorecard and their Governor’s Report Card for the entire seven-year tenure of Larry Hogan. 

The publications outline and stress a new reality: the existential threat of the climate crisis demands urgent and meaningful action from our elected officials at all levels. The impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent in Maryland, where flooding and increasingly intense storms and heatwaves jeopardize communities from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland. 

Find out what our 2021 environmental scorecard and Governor’s report card say about Maryland’s leadership to meet the challenges of today’s climate crisis. 

WHEN: Tele-conference on November 18th at 12pm 

WHERE: contact Dannielle Lipinski if you are press for information.

WHO: Kim Coble, Executive Director
Lynn Heller, Maryland LCV Board Chair

**key staff will be available during the call to answer press questions

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Maryland League of Conservation Voters is a state-wide, nonpartisan organization that uses political action and education to protect our  land, air, water and communities. The organization is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Maryland LCV’s annual scorecard, along with their other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Maryland LCV Presents 2021 Legislative Environmental Scorecard and 7-year Report Card for Governor Hogan appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-11-17T15:14:26-05:00November 17th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Maryland LCV Presents 2021 Legislative Environmental Scorecard and 7-year Report Card for Governor Hogan

Thank your legislators for their support of public transit funding. Now it’s time to urge them to override Hogan’s veto of this much needed funding!

The post Thank your legislators for their support of public transit funding. Now it’s time to urge them to override Hogan’s veto of this much needed funding! appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-11-11T10:06:02-05:00November 11th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Thank your legislators for their support of public transit funding. Now it’s time to urge them to override Hogan’s veto of this much needed funding!

Statement on the Build Back Better federal legislation

Maryland LCV’s statement on the Build Back Better Act
October 28, 2021

“Today, after thousands of Marylanders and millions across the nation called, knocked on doors, and demanded action, the President has announced a framework with the strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat the climate crisis. This framework represents years of work from frontline communities and others to put the U.S. on the path to cutting our climate pollution in half by 2030, invest directly in communities of color too often left behind, and create good-paying union jobs. Congress must swiftly pass the Build Back Better Act and send it to President Biden to sign into law.

Together with federal executive orders and state and local legislation, the Build Back Better Act will ensure we meet our climate goals. This is a historic day for people and the planet. We expect Maryland’s entire delegation to support this framework that improves the lives of every Marylander and eagerly await a final vote in Congress.”

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Maryland LCV is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Their annual scorecard, along with other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Statement on the Build Back Better federal legislation appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-10-28T12:32:16-04:00October 28th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Statement on the Build Back Better federal legislation

Maryland LCV Organizes Community Art Activation calling for Climate Action Now at the National Aquarium in Baltimore

September 9, 2021

Maryland LCV Organizes Community Art Activation calling for Climate Action Now at the National Aquarium in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD —  Thursday morning, Maryland LCV teamed up with local artist Michael Kirby in front of the National Aquarium to participate in a community art project connecting Maryland’s urgent need to address the threats of the climate crisis in the state with the stories of the people and the communities who are impacted by the climate crisis.

With the latest IPCC climate report citing a “code red for humanity,” communities are mobilizing to demand action at the scale that science and justice demands. Maryland alone experienced 31 extreme weather events in the past 10 years, costing the state up to $10 billion in damages. Today’s art activation is just another way people are coming together across the country to call for bold climate infrastructure investments that deliver clean energy, jobs and justice.

“Just last week, Hurricane Ida made landfall over 1,000 miles away and wreaked havoc in its path- damaging our communities and fragile ecosystems. These storms and extreme weather events are just increasing in size and frequency because of climate change. It’s time for action,” said Laura Bankey, vice president of National Aquarium’s Conservation Programs.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ‘Build Back Better,’ to create a clean energy economy that works for everyone and lifts up frontline and disadvantaged communities. Our elected leaders need to hear that we are calling for climate action now,” said Kim Coble, executive director of Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

A representative from Senator Van Hollen’s office, Shannon Sneed stopped by along with Governor Hogan, who was on his way to another event.

Photos of the event can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/mdlcv/posts/10157921356411174

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Maryland LCV is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Their annual scorecard, along with other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Maryland LCV Organizes Community Art Activation calling for Climate Action Now at the National Aquarium in Baltimore appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-09-13T14:38:03-04:00September 13th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Maryland LCV Organizes Community Art Activation calling for Climate Action Now at the National Aquarium in Baltimore

Ørsted and Maryland partner for a sustainable future

Ørsted and Maryland partner for a sustainable future

By David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America

It is a privilege to join the Maryland League of Conservation Voters in celebrating Maryland’s environmental changemakers. As CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America, the global offshore wind leader, I have been inspired by how the State of Maryland and Maryland LCV make change a reality in the fight to stop climate change. By supporting ambitious renewable energy policies like offshore wind, you put Maryland on the map as a decisive leader in the fight for a sustainable energy future. 

As the developer of Skipjack Wind 1 in Maryland, one of the first awarded Offshore Wind Projects in Maryland, Ørsted feels a special responsibility to help Maryland reach its goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. We developed the world’s first offshore wind farm 30 years ago, supply green power to 15 million people, and create true value for local communities everywhere we work – one turbine rotation at a time. We own and operate America’s first offshore farm in Rhode Island and, in 2020, installed the first-ever offshore wind turbines in federal waters off the coast of Virginia. We are pioneers in this space, and want to help Maryland lead, as well.

Science tells us we must address global warming soon to avoid irreversible consequences, and net human carbon emissions must reach zero by 2050. 

Combating climate change lies at the core of Ørsted’s mission. We have undertaken an historic transformation in our business model from a highly intensive user of fossil fuels to an almost 100% renewable energy company. And we are on track to be a carbon neutral company by 2025. 

This makes us uniquely suited to partner with Maryland. To help the state reach its clean energy goals, Ørsted is developing Skipjack Wind 1, a 120 megawatt wind farm 20 miles off the Maryland coast. Skipjack Wind 1 will power 40,000 homes in the region, create nearly 1,400 jobs for Maryland workers, and generate more than $200 million in local economic investment. 

Ørsted builds, owns, and operates its wind farms for their full life cycle, and has for 30 years. So, the commitments we make to Maryland and its citizens are for the long term. 

For instance, we broke ground in 2019 on Maryland’s first offshore wind staging center at Tradepoint Atlantic, making the former steel manufacturing site a hub for 21st century renewable energy growth. Local small businesses performed critical welding work at the site, and historically underemployed East Baltimore residents learned new trade skills they can utilize for decades to come. We have plans for much more local economic development, which we will announce soon.

In addition to Skipjack Wind 1, Ørsted recently proposed a new project – Skipjack Wind 2 – which will power 250,000 homes in the Delmarva region. This ambitious project will bring sustainable jobs and economic impact to the Baltimore region with the establishment of an advanced sub-sea array cable manufacturing facility at Tradepoint Atlantic. As the first of its kind in the U.S., this facility will not only serve a majority of our large 4 gigawatt portfolio of projects, but also the broader—and rapidly developing—American offshore wind industry. All told, our two projects would generate a $625 million investment in Maryland and accelerate Maryland’s progress towards its climate goals. 

Ørsted is committed to the communities in which we operate. Everyone, especially underserved communities, should have access to the incredible promise of this new American industry. As part of Skipjack Wind 2, we will invest $10 million in Maryland’s STEM education programs so that local students can compete for offshore wind jobs. Our agreement with the Baltimore – D.C. Metro Building and Construction Trades Council ensures organized labor is part of our plans for onshore and offshore construction. We will build the nation’s first carbon neutral Operations and Maintenance (O&M) facility in Maryland, creating a model for our industry and long-term local Eastern Shore jobs. 

Helping Maryland reach its renewable energy goals is an obligation we take seriously. Stopping climate change will not be easy, but that should not stop businesses, NGOs, and governments from taking decisive action now to secure a sustainable future. 

That’s what changemaking is all about. We are proud to partner with Maryland and the changemakers at Maryland LCV to create more clean energy and thousands of green jobs for Maryland residents – one rotation at a time.  

David Hardy is CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America, developer of Skipjack Wind 1 and Skipjack Wind 2 in Maryland. 

The post Ørsted and Maryland partner for a sustainable future appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-09-13T13:05:56-04:00September 13th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Ørsted and Maryland partner for a sustainable future

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley calls on Congress to pass Biden infrastructure and climate plan at virtual roundtable

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley calls on Congress to pass Biden infrastructure and climate plan at virtual roundtable

Mayors highlighted local importance of passing climate investments for local communities

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley joined mayors from four other states at a virtual town hall to call on Congress to pass President Biden’s infrastructure and climate plan, highlighting the family-sustaining union jobs that would be created with a transformational investment in clean energy.

Buckley hailed the Senate’s recent passage of a bipartisan infrastructure deal to invest in crumbling bridges and expand public transit. But he said that this first step must be joined to a second, $3.5 trillion jobs and climate package currently under consideration in Congress in order to transform the region’s economy and bring it into the 21st century.

“Annapolis is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having experienced the largest increase of any U.S. city in nuisance flooding days over the last 50 years,” said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. “We are committed to strategically tackling climate change, but need a similar commitment from Congress. Simply stated, we need federal investments that match the scale of the problems we face. We need to pass the full Build Back Better agenda.”

Buckley was joined by mayors from three other states to highlight the importance of swift action from Washington: Mayor Ravi Bhalla of Hoboken, New Jersey; Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Mayor Kathy Sheehan of Albany, New York.

The mayors highlighted the union jobs that would be created if Congress moves forward with the president’s plan to tackle climate change, pointing to investments in renewable energy sources and weatherization that would also help lower energy costs for consumers and businesses alike.

And they pointed to proposals that would replace every lead pipe in the nation, finally eliminating a threat to our nation’s children, as well as investments in remediating contaminated industrial sites as a means of revitalizing blighted communities.

“Hoboken is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Superstorm Sandy flooded over 80% of our city and left residents without water and power for days, and chronic flood events have become more frequent. We are proud to be part of the solution by investing in green infrastructure, solar energy, and electric vehicles, but there is more work to be done,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, “We’ve pledged to have our City operations be carbon neutral by 2035, and when they’re completed, our resiliency parks will hold over a million gallons of stormwater runoff. But this moment also demands bold action at the Federal level. Congress must pass President Biden’s Full Build Back Better Agenda now to give Hoboken and cities like us the tools we need.”

“Every elected official, from the federal level to the local level, has a role in combatting climate change. We have a massive opportunity with President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda, and the City of Albany is ready to do our part to rebuild our infrastructure, build a clean energy grid, and create good-paying jobs for our community” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. “Albany is an economic and cultural center for New York, and we have a responsibility to protect our city for future generations. Thank you to the New York League of Conservation Voters for hosting this important discussion.”

“While the bipartisan infrastructure deal that passed the Senate complements work we’ve already been doing in Scranton around charging stations for electric cars and looking at needed electricity grid improvements,” Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti said, “we need the second federal package to truly boost job creation by funding the construction of electric school buses and trucks to improve air quality and transform our transportation sector. The fact is that Scranton residents are counting on Congress to pass President Biden’s agenda to create jobs while tackling the existential threat posed by a changing climate. We need Congress to meet this historic moment and act without delay.”

While the mayors hailed the bipartisan compromise that led to the infrastructure deal, they called on Democrats in Congress to press forward with a standalone climate and energy package — pointing to overwhelming public support for investments in clean energy and other aspects of the president’s agenda.

A recent Data for Progress poll found that 65 percent of voters support these investments.

Buckley joined with his colleagues in calling on Congress to work with President Biden to ensure swift passage of legislation that enjoys such significant support.

The event was hosted by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, the New York League of Conservation Voters, and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. As part of their ongoing nationwide campaign, League of Conservation Voters state affiliates across the country are hosting regional discussions this week with mayors from New England, the Midwest, and the Mountain West.  In total, 20 U.S. mayors will join the Conservation Voter Movement for Climate Action Now events this week. These discussions are part of LCV and Climate Power’s Climate Action Now: Great American Build August tour with over 30 events across the country building support for federal climate action.

“Annapolis and Mayor Buckley are national leaders in creatively and purposefully addressing the impacts of climate change,” said Kai Mateo, Maryland LCV’s Federal Climate Campaign Manager. “To be successful, America’s mayors, and all those on the frontlines of handling the climate crisis, need, and deserve a plan as ambitious as Build Back Better.”

“If we hope to combat climate change, we need strong leadership at the local level. We’re thrilled to be able to bring together four mayors who are leading on this front to discuss Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. With bold federal climate action, we can make important local investments and create good-paying union jobs, build resilient infrastructure, and create a just and equitable clean energy grid. We thank Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Mayor Gavin Buckley, Mayor Ravi Bhalla, and Mayor Paige Cognetti for leading on climate and participating in our discussion,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

“Cities like Hoboken are on the front lines of climate change,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “They’re doing the work to expand access to renewable energy, reduce flooding from stormwater, and harden their communities against the impacts of rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms. But elected officials like Mayor Bhalla deserve a partner in Washington who will provide them with the resources they need to chart a sustainable, clean energy future for their communities. It’s time for Congress to step up and pass President Biden’s transformational infrastructure and climate plan to put people to work expanding access to renewable energy and in addressing increasing flooding that threatens our most vulnerable residents.”

“Cities like Scranton are on the front lines addressing our climate crisis,” said Molly Parzen, Interim Executive Director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “But they need support from the federal government if they are going to curb emissions and protect their residents from the impacts of increasingly severe storms and worsening flooding. Congress must act now to pass President Biden’s transformational climate and infrastructure agenda, which enjoys strong bipartisan support. The people of Scranton, and of Pennsylvania, need to know that their elected representatives in Congress are fighting for them.”

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Maryland LCV is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Their annual scorecard, along with other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.

The post Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley calls on Congress to pass Biden infrastructure and climate plan at virtual roundtable appeared first on Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

2021-08-18T16:21:35-04:00August 18th, 2021|Categories: MDLCV|Comments Off on Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley calls on Congress to pass Biden infrastructure and climate plan at virtual roundtable