Dannielle Lipinski2023-01-03T14:54:20-05:00October 26th, 2022|Categories: Education Fund|Tags: monthly donor|0 Comments
Thank you for joining us
We envision a Maryland where all residents and regions have a strong voice and opportunities to make the state a national leader in implementing effective environmental protections and achieving meaningful environmental justice.
Here’s how we’ll achieve that vision:
- Increase Voter Turnout. Through non-partisan education, volunteer engagement, digital organizing, and coalition building, we will register new voters and get out the vote. We will train, empower, and activate Marylanders in targeted priority regions to use their vote and political voice to elect pro-conservation leaders that advance equitable access to clean air and water and safe and healthy communities.
- Broaden the Conservation Voter Movement. Maryland LCV Education Fund will continue its leading role in educating and activating potential voters from underrepresented communities. Our Chispa Maryland program’s power-building efforts will include launching a new online leadership training program.
- Hold Leaders Accountable. Our accountability work demonstrates to elected officials that their votes on key issues impact how their constituents view them. We will strategically leverage our relationships and programs – and create opportunities to deploy our growing advocate base – to ensure elected officials are aggressively advancing our policies and acting on the issues that our communities care about, including fair transportation systems, equitable voter access, and clean air and water.
Although Maryland successfully passed a landmark climate bill in 2022, the implementation of the legislation will require challenging adjustments to state agencies and budgets. Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (Maryland LCVEF) is positioned to play a key role in ensuring these transitions are effective and strategic, making our work more urgent than ever.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved.
Kim Coble, Executive Director
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Urge Your County to Apply for New Electric School Buses
Help us make a difference by contacting your School Superintendent and School Board to urge them to submit an application to access new federal funding under the EPA’s $5 billion dollar Clean School Bus Program.
Help us make a difference by contacting your School Superintendent and School Board to urge them to submit an application to access new federal funding under the EPA’s $5 billion dollar Clean School Bus Program.Funds from the program will allow us to replace diesel polluting buses with zero-tailpipe-emission electric school buses, so vitally important in improving the health and welfare of our children and our community.
We’ve done all the work writing the letter – you just have to add your info! Our children deserve no less.
CLICK HERE if you’re in Baltimore County
CLICK HERE if you’re in Prince George’s County
CLICK HERE if you’re in Caroline County
CLICK HERE if you’re in Kent County
CLICK HERE if you’re in Somerset County
CLICK HERE if you’re in Dorchester County
Attorney General Candidate Forum: 5/20
Attorney General Forum
Friday, May 20
12:00 – 12:30pm
via Zoom
Three of the four candidates for attorney general – Anthony Brown, Katie Curran O’Malley, and Jim Shalleck have agreed to answer questions related to the role the office plays in defending the environment.
The program will take place on Zoom and is expected to last 30 minutes. The program is offered for free. REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND. (If you are not available to attend at the time of the program, you may still register to receive a link to the recording after the program has ended.)
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT WHO BECOMES OUR NEXT AG
Did you know that the Trump Administration tried to replace the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan from 2015? The proposed plan failed to regulate greenhouse gas emissions or other harmful air pollutants from coal and oil-burning power plants. Fortunately, the Maryland Office of Attorney General joined the fight challenging the rule change in court and won victory for clean air.
Did you know it was the Office of Attorney General that negotiated a $35.5 million settlement for the State of Maryland with Volkswagen as a result of their violation of our air quality control laws?
This election year, the position of Attorney General is one of three open statewide seats. Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund wants to ensure voters are aware of the importance of the role of Attorney General in advancing and defending environmental policies.
All four registered Attorney General candidates were invited to participate in the forum. Republican candidate Michael Anthony Peroutka did not respond to our invitation.
“Best in Nation” Climate Bill Highlights 2022 Legislative Session’s Many Environmental Achievements
Press release from Maryland League of Conservation Voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2022
Contact: Kristen Harbison, 410.952.8100 Email: kharbeson@mdlcv.org
“Best in Nation” Climate Bill Highlights 2022 Legislative Session’s Many Environmental Achievements
Annapolis, MD – After struggling for several years to reach consensus on a comprehensive bill to address climate change in Maryland, the 2022 Legislative Session closed tonight with passage of the Climate Solutions Now Act. The momentous bill commits the state to net-zero climate emissions by 2045 and requires a 60 percent carbon reduction goal by 2031, the strongest near-term goal in the country.
The Climate Solutions Now Act passed the General Assembly on March 31 and became law when Gov. Hogan chose not to veto the bill.
“The Climate Solutions Now Act is a huge step toward a brighter future for our public health, budgets, and communities,” said Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble. “It is major news that Maryland is leading the fight against climate change. We are enormously grateful the Maryland General Assembly had the courage and vision to vote for a healthy future for Marylanders, and that the Governor chose not to stand in the way of progress.”
The Climate Solutions Now Act also incorporated many provisions that traditionally would have been included in stand-alone bills.
The Act requires emissions reductions from large buildings and creates a 15-month study to determine steps needed to electrify new buildings.
The bill also includes an electric school bus pilot program in which utilities partner with school boards to purchase electric buses and use them for electricity grid storage. It creates the first in the nation mandate that school buses purchased after 2024 be zero-emission and requires all state passenger and light-duty vehicles to be zero-emission by 2031 and 2036 respectively.
Coble also celebrated environmental justice advancements in the bill.
It codifies the definition of “overburdened” and “underserved” to ensure equitable treatment of communities and sets goals for state clean energy investments in overburdened communities. And it will make the benefits of solar energy more accessible to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households by exempting solar on rooftops, parking garages, and brownfields from property taxes if it provides more than 50% of the energy to these households.
“Along with our community partners, we are still pushing Maryland to create a comprehensive policy framework to achieve environmental justice in the state, based on community-driven solutions,” said Coble. “Although the state still falls short of that paradigm shift, the 2022 legislative session delivered significant equity advances to communities that are disproportionately harmed by environmental and public health problems.”
Several bills supported by the environmental community did not pass, including the FUTURE Act, which would have mandated a transition to zero-emissions for Maryland’s State University System, and the Clean Truck Rule, which would have signed Maryland onto the Advanced Clean Truck Rule to drive electrification of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. A grant program for medium and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles within the Clean Cars Act (HB1039), however, does take positive steps in this area.
“On the whole, the successes of the 2022 legislative session provide a valuable reminder that to achieve meaningful, lasting environmental victories, we need to elect conservation-minded candidates,” said Coble. “We are enormously grateful to our legislative leaders who delivered for Maryland’s environment and communities this session. It’s crucial that Maryland’s next governor builds on the victories of this legislative session to advance the state towards 100 percent clean energy and truly equitable environmental policies.”
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LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UP WEBINAR 4/12
Tune in via ZOOM on Tuesday, April 12 at noon for a candid rundown of the key environmental bills that made it and those that didn’t in the 2022 General Assembly.
Executive Director Kim Coble will provide updates and insights into the why’s and why-not’s, and how the outcomes will impact us all as we work to combat climate change and environmental inequities.
Fresh from a face-to-face meeting with the Hogan administration, Kim will also shed light on what’s ahead as we wait to see which bills the governor signs into law and which he vetos.
You do not want to miss this insider view into the state of some of the most critical climate legislation in the nation. REGISTER NOW
How Students Can Fight Climate Change at Their Schools
By 2021 Spring Intern, Shivani Sidh
This spring, I had the opportunity to do an internship at Maryland League of Conservation Voters. I chose to work with the organization because I’m interested in climate justice: resolving the environmental, ethical, and equity issues created by climate change.
Shivani Sidh is a student at Garrison Forest School who is volunteered with the Chispa Maryland program. Post-graduation she will progress to the University of Maryland as a Public Policy major. Shivani is grateful for the opportunity to work in a professional setting and excited to work with Maryland LCV on environmental justice and social equity policies.
Addressing the complex issue of environmental justice can seem challenging, especially for high school students who want to get involved in the fight for climate change. However, one opportunity for involvement is closer and simpler than expected. High schoolers can use their position as students to create change by working for school bus electrification, a campaign that aims to transition fleets from diesel to electric school buses.
While school buses are an efficient method of transport, most are powered by diesel, which has adverse effects on children and the atmosphere. Each day, countless children travel on diesel buses to attend school. In comparison to someone riding in a car, a child in a diesel school bus may be exposed to as much as four times the level of toxins. Diesel emits carcinogens and particulate matter, which can exacerbate common breathing conditions such as asthma. It’s significant to note that minority children have higher asthma rates in comparison to their white counterparts. Diesel emissions also cause an increased risk for a multitude of illnesses ranging from cancer to heart disease.
Diesel holds an additional risk to the environment, as in addition to the toxins, it releases a variety of pollutants (such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides). The health and well being of children and the environment should not be compromised by something as common as a school bus.
Students can encourage the transition to cleaner transportation by educating themselves on the severity of climate change, signing petitions, and reaching out to elected officials. Students can also work with teams, possibly joining organizations like Maryland LCV and participating in their efforts, creating environmental clubs, and reaching out to the transportation department for their respective schools.
There are currently a number of avenues for school districts to start transitioning their fleets from diesel to electric that range from from federal grant programs and loans to utility investment, financing strategies and vehicle-to-grid technology. Maryland LCV’s Chispa program supported a state bill that intended to launch a pilot project to electrify school bus fleets in Maryland districts. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass through the Senate, but Maryland LCV and its partners intend to re-address the issue in the next legislative session.
Some Maryland school districts are creating their own solutions to begin the deployment of electric school buses and practice sustainability. Montgomery County recently approved a contract to lease 326 electric buses, a model that can be used to eventually electrify the entire bus fleet. Additionally, in March of 2021, Prince George’s County Public Schools became the first to commit to a Net Zero Emissions plan. They vowed that by 2040 their transportation would be “fully clean”.
Hopefully, with student help, the efforts of environmental groups, and the work of legislators, all Maryland diesel school buses will be replaced by 2030.
If you are a high school student interested in advocating for electric buses at your school, please let us know. We would love to help you in your efforts! Email us at info@mdlcv.org
Maryland Voters Support Action on Climate and Transportation
A recent poll — conducted for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) by Nexus Polling and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication — finds strong support for policies to improve transportation and address climate change in the state. The representative survey of 553 registered Maryland voters was conducted January 27-February 4, 2021, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%
Voters want the MTA to ensure Marylanders can get to work safely, reduce traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and increase transportation.
Nearly all (96%) Maryland voters say ensuring Marylanders, including essential workers, can get to work safely and on time is an important objective, including more than seven in 10 (72%) who say it is a very important objective. About six in 10 Maryland voters say reducing traffic congestion (61%), reducing the harmful pollution that lowers air quality and contributes to asthma and lung disease (60%), and ensuring low-income communities and communities of color have increased access to public transportation (59%) are very important objectives for MTA. Roughly half say lowering costs for Marylanders (49%) or adding new bus routes and train lines to reach rural communities (48%) are very important objectives as well.
Maryland voters support transit infrastructure spending now.
Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Maryland voters say Maryland should increase spending on transit infrastructure now to ensure Maryland residents, including essential workers, can get around the state safely, while also providing emergency relief to families, businesses, and public services. Majorities of Maryland voters also support a variety of transportation investments, including:
- Investing in repairing and maintaining current transportation infrastructure (86%)
- Adding new bus routes and train lines to reach communities that don’t currently have access to public transportation (83%)
- Providing tax credits or rebates to individuals/households that purchase an electric vehicle (70%)
- Adding bike lanes to existing roads and bridges (70%)
- Investing state tax dollars in installing electric vehicle charging stations in rural, urban, suburban areas (68%)
- Establishing zero-emission zones in cities (52%)
Maryland voters also support a wide array of climate policies, including:
- Planting 4.5 million new trees over the next nine years to help remove carbon pollution from the air (86%)
- Requiring oil and gas companies in the state to pay some of the costs related to adapting to climate change, including investments in transportation infrastructure and sea level rise (76%)
- Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a fee on their carbon pollution (74%)
- Requiring new constructed buildings with at least 20,000 square feet to install rooftop solar panels (74%)
- Requiring utility companies in Maryland to generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 (72%)
- Replacing state-owned gas- and diesel-powered vehicles with electric or hybrid vehicles (67%)
- Requiring newly constructed homes and buildings to be emissions-free (66%)
Coronavirus response, infrastructure funding and climate action are seen as top priorities for Maryland this year.
More than eight in 10 Maryland voters say passing economic stimulus legislation (83%) and public health legislation (81%) in response to the coronavirus pandemic are important priorities for the Maryland state government this year, including more than six in 10 (61% and 61%, respectively) who say they should be top priorities. Transportation infrastructure is also seen as a high priority by voters in the state: About eight in 10 also say investing more in transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges (83%) and passing an infrastructure spending bill to update and modernize Maryland’s infrastructure (78%) should be priorities. Roughly seven in 10 see addressing racism (73%) and passing a comprehensive bill to address climate change (69%) as important priorities for the state this year. And 72% of respondents said they support requiring utility companies in Maryland to generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Not only do Maryland voters support climate policies, but they want their elected representatives to support them as well.
At least seven in 10 say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate for Maryland political office who backs investing state dollars to upgrade the electric grid and expand the production of renewable energy (73%), requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a tax on their carbon pollution (71%), and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 (70%).
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Voting by Mail in the Old Line State
By Kristen Harbeson, Political Director of Maryland LCV
The June Primary has come and gone but the 2020 Election has barely hit its stride. Even as we are facing the rise and fall and rise again of COVID-19 infections, Marylanders are preparing to go to the polls in November.
To pass strong environmental legislation, we must have the right elected officials in office. Nothing is more important to that goal than a robust election where voters’—all voters’— voices are heard and champions are elected that reflect their conservation values over the interests of those who would pave over forests and eliminate environmental protections.
To advocate for a fair, free, and safe election, Maryland League of Conservation Voters is part of a large and diverse coalition called “Everyone Votes Maryland.” We hope you will engage in our campaign — including spreading the word — to ensure its success.
Looking forward through this public health crisis to a critical national election, it is essential that every registered voter make a plan on how they will have their vote heard.
Check your registration
All registered Maryland voters will be sent mail-in ballot applications in advance of the November 3rd election. Since ballot and ballot applications will not be forwarded, it’s important that everyone make sure that their registration is up to date.
- Are you registered to vote in Maryland?
- Have you moved since the last election?
Check your status here: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch
Apply for an absentee ballot:
You don’t have to wait for your absentee ballot application to arrive in the mail.
Voting by mail is the best and safest way to make your voice heard. Not only is it secure, but it provides a guaranteed paper record of every vote in the case of a recount. In addition, it allows voters time to sit with their ballots and do research, which is especially important for voters with lower literacy levels, or whose first language is not English.
Visit: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1
- To receive a ballot in the mail, you must request a ballot by no later than Tuesday, October 27.
- Ballots can also be e-mailed if they are requested on or before Thursday, October 30.
- You will need to know:
- Your voter type (citizenship, military affiliation, etc.)
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your State ID number and issue date. This could be a drivers license or MVA-issued ID.
- Note that if you don’t already have one, the website will send you to a Maryland Voter Registration Application, which will require an original signature and can not be e-mailed or faxed.
- Your address
- Your political party (if any)
- A contact phone number and e-mail address
You will be asked how you would like to receive your ballot, and be required to swear or affirm that your information is correct: That you are a US Citizen, a Maryland resident, at least 16 years old, and you do not have a current conviction that prevents you from being eligible to vote.
- Note: previously convicted felons who have been released on parole or who have completed their time served are eligible to vote by Maryland state law.
Voting by Mail
Once you receive your ballot, you will be able to review the candidates for office and cast your vote safely and securely.
- Your ballot must be postmarked on or before November 3, 2020
- For ballots sent by mail, postage will be pre-paid. No additional postage will be required.
- For ballots received by e-mail, voters will be required to print and mail their ballots with the appropriate postage (2 stamps)
- Ballots should be signed and filled out with a black pen
- Ballots MUST be signed to be considered valid.
Voting in Person
Some people prefer to vote in person, or have disabilities which make it essential to have in-person voting options. Not to worry! There will be opportunities for you to visit a voting center.
- Each jurisdiction will have voting centers open for early voting from October 22 – October 29th.
- In-person voting options will also be available on November 3rd.
- Voting centers will require voters to wear a mask in order to enter the facility, and social-distancing will be maintained.
- Ballot marking devices will be available for voters with disabilities
- Same-day registration will be available during early voting and on election day
- Voters registering on-site may be required to fill out provisional ballots.
Important Dates:
- Absentee ballots will begin being mailed out on September 19th
- Last day to pre-register to vote is October 13th– you will still be able to register in person on election day at your polling location
- Early Voting for the General Election – Thursday, October 22, 2020 through Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 8 am until 8 pm.
- Last day to request an absentee ballot is October 29th
- November 3 General Election – Your absentee ballot must be postmarked by this day
A great how-to video on absentee ballot request from Speaker Adrienne Jones can be found here.
We need to stay vigilant and focused on ensuring every Marylander has the necessary tools and resources to vote. Stay tuned to see updates from us and our partners in Everyone Votes Maryland about the November elections. With so much at stake, we need all Marylanders to exercise their right to vote. It is one of the best actions you can take to protect and restore Maryland’s land, air, water and communities.
Racial Justice Response Statement
June 4, 2020
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters and Maryland LCV Education Fund share your outrage, grief, and pain over the killings of George Floyd and other members of the Black community. We steadfastly stand in solidarity with those calling for justice, accountability, and an end to the systemic racism and insidious cycle of violence that is inflicted upon the community. For too long, too many Black communities have been disenfranchised, marginalized, polluted, and prevented from voting, speaking up, or even living without fear of arrest, injury, or worse. Black people have a right to safety, to enjoy the outdoors, to live without being harmed by environmental pollutants, and to vote. And we all have the responsibility to fight for these rights.
Maryland LCV commits to holding ourselves accountable to ensure racial equity is embedded in our programs and operations. We also commit to redoubling our efforts to elect and hold accountable leaders who will ensure the security and rights of all people equally and to continue our work to guarantee that all Marylanders – especially our Black and Brown brothers and sisters – have an effective political voice and access to clean air and water and safe and healthy communities. We commit to being an organization that works tirelessly on behalf of all Marylanders, but especially members of Maryland’s Black and Brown communities, to protect the right to vote, to protest, to breathe.
For all in the Conservation Voter Movement and beyond who want to act now to be part of the solution, we urge you to seek out organizations and individuals that have been working on the front lines of this essential work to protect protestors and our basic human rights and dignity during this time. We also strongly urge you to be part of the solution this November by exercising your right to vote.
Below are a few articles that we will be taking to heart: