Democrats want 50% of Maryland's energy to come from non existing renewable sources

ADVOCATES SEE CLEAN ENERGY BILL PASSING THIS YEAR THANKS TO CHANGES IN (POLITICAL) CLIMATE

When environmental groups and their allies began pushing for new regulations that would require half of Maryland’s power to come from renewable sources by 2030, they assumed it would be a two- or three-year campaign.

But now that more than half of the members of the House of Delegates and state Senate have committed to co-sponsoring the legislation in this legislative session, organizers are beginning to rethink their strategy.

“This is big news,” said Jamie DeMarco, campaign co-manager for the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative. “This is a ‘this-year’ game now.”

The legislation, which will be introduced by Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery) and House Majority Leader C. William Frick (D-Montgomery), would boost the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50 percent, up from the current goal of using 25 percent renewables by 2020. It also would set incentives to boost clean energy jobs and would phase out incentives for trash incineration.

Working with a host of environmental groups, faith leaders, labor unions and community organizations, the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative is using the same playbook for the RPS push that Jamie DeMarco’s father, Vincent DeMarco, has honed throughout his career, successfully campaigning for gun safety and public health legislation.

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