CONTACT:
Jamie Nolan; jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org; 240-396-2022

ANNAPOLIS — “After months of productive debate and legislative progress, the Maryland General Assembly will fall short this year in its effort to pass the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2011. The bill would have created thousands of new jobs in the fight against climate change while helping to stabilize electricity rates and lower energy costs over time. But the biggest hurdle confronting the bill this year was simply tradition. The Maryland General Assembly rarely passes a landmark bill the first year it’s introduced. Therefore it was always a strong challenge for this new and transformative bill — sponsored by Governor Martin O’Malley — to become law this year. We, the major advocates of this bill, now pledge to continue our campaign in 2012 for passage.

We thank Governor O’Malley and his staff for their extraordinary leadership on this vital issue this year. We thank Senator Mac Middleton and Delegate Dereck Davis for their leadership in key committees. And we thank all the concerned citizens all across Maryland — doctors, union members, environmentalists, business leaders, local governments, and faith groups — who worked so hard to bring this issue to the center of public discussion in Annapolis. We will be back!”

Statement on behalf of:

– Chesapeake Climate Action Network
– United Steelworkers of Maryland
–  League of Women Voters Maryland
–  Environment Maryland
–  Sierra Club Maryland Chapter
–  National Wildlife Federation
–  Maryland League of Conservation Voters

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