After Weeks of Historic Climate Disasters, Dominion Plans More Fossil Fuels

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Dominion Energy released its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, a planning document that contemplates keeping all of the monopoly utility’s 19 fossil fuel generators online and building a half dozen new fossil fuel units. The plan comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, a 225- to 250-billion-dollar disaster that claimed hundreds of lives and, experts say, was made significantly more destructive by climate change caused by burning fossil fuel. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated 125 million dollars in damages to farmland alone in Southwest Virginia. 

Dominion’s plan envisions increasing customer bills by 75% to 157% over the next 15 years to meet demand driven by data centers, including by investing in exorbitantly expensive new nuclear facilities and gas peaking plants, the two most expensive forms of new generation. Relying on gas is as bad or worse for the climate as coal due to methane leakage throughout the lifecycle of the fuel. The plan also includes a significant investment in clean energy mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

“Dominion has, once again, put forward a plan to accelerate climate change in the Commonwealth,” said Victoria Higgins, CCAN’s Virginia Director. “Dominion’s plan would significantly increase pollution in Virginia, putting us knowingly in the way of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene – and worse. Scientists have been clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure is an existential threat to our people and economy. While we’re glad to see Dominion intends to build a significant amount of clean energy, no plan that also includes new, polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is a serious proposal in the face of these horrific impacts to human lives and our economy. Regulators and lawmakers must reign in Dominion’s reckless plans, and ensure data centers are coming to the table to plan for a clean energy future that is affordable for all Virginians.”

Not included in Dominion’s plan is any nod to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon cap-and-invest program required by Virginia law from which Governor Glenn Youngkin is currently attempting to remove the state. By pulling Dominion and other monopoly utilities out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governor Youngkin deprives Virginia of hundreds of millions of dollars each year for proactive flood preparedness to prevent the worst impacts of natural disasters, as well as funding for home weatherization for low-income families – many of whom live in the vulnerable Southwest region. 

The vast majority of the accelerating electricity-load growth in Dominion territory is tied to data centers, which increasingly house artificial intelligence operations. Under current Virginia law and regulatory policy, Virginia residents will pay for the generation and transmission costs associated with new generation infrastructure necessary to serve data centers. The State Corporation Commission is planning a technical conference in December to assess whether to change how to allocate energy costs associated with large energy users.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Advocates Applaud Maryland Gov. Moore’s Executive Order to Develop Healthy Air Standards for HVACs and Water Heaters This Year


Zero-emission heating equipment standards, part of Gov. Moore’s ambitious executive order on climate, can lower energy bills, deliver healthier air for residents, and accelerate progress towards Maryland’s climate goals

BALTIMORE — A coalition of health, environmental justice, and climate organizations today applauded an executive order from Gov. Wes Moore directing the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to develop zero-emission heating equipment standards this year. This announcement, which comes as a new analysis from RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) reveals that Marylanders can save an average of $740 on heating and cooling and $380 on water heating by upgrading to highly efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, will ensure Maryland residents can adopt the best, most efficient clean heating equipment.

Healthy air standards can phase in the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps, which provide affordable, reliable heating and cooling year round while reducing health-harming air pollution. In Maryland, fossil fuel heating equipment in residential and commercial buildings emits more than three times as much health-harming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as all the state’s power plants put together, and is responsible for approximately 3,500 cases of asthma, 6,500 lost work days, and $1.3 billion in health impacts each year. Alarmingly, pollution from burning fossil fuels in homes and commercial buildings has increased in recent years, making this executive order even more essential.

Maryland is already a regional leader in heat pump adoption. Already, 54% of Maryland homes are on track to install heat pumps by 2030, and in February 2024 Gov. Moore joined eight states to pledge to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps to reach 65% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2030 and 90% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2040. Further, Maryland residents overwhelmingly support this policy. According to polling from CCAN, three-quarters of Maryland voters support healthy air standards that would phase in heat pump technology. 

QUOTES FROM ADVOCATES BELOW:

“Today’s announcement from Gov. Moore not only cements Maryland’s legacy as a climate leader, but will create more equitable access to climate and health resources, paying dividends for generations to come,” said Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “Phasing in zero-emission heating equipment standards, coupled with policies that build healthier, more affordable homes, will provide urgent relief in the form of cleaner, healthier air for low-income families and a future where all Marylanders can thrive.” 

“To meet its climate goals, Maryland must tackle fossil fuel use in buildings, which represents 13% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “We’re proud to see Governor Moore take a massive step toward this goal through today’s executive order, which will gradually reduce this climate pollution from buildings and send a signal to manufacturers, retailers, and installers to prepare for an increased demand in clean technologies such as heat pumps.” 

“The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels in our homes is not evenly distributed across Maryland, with people of color 60% more likely to be exposed to pollution from gas heating equipment, exacerbating health conditions like asthma and heart disease for vulnerable communities,” said Jose Coronado-Flores, an organizer for CASA. “Promoting the adoption of highly-efficient electric equipment such as heat pumps through this executive order will finally help close the alarming, preventable health disparities we see from this air pollution.” 

“We applaud Governor Moore’s affirmative step to promote clean electric heat pumps that should lower bills and improve health outcomes and quality of life for Marylanders,” said Leah Louis-Prescott, building electrification policy expert at RMI. “To ensure monthly energy savings go to the residents who need it most, the Moore administration must pursue a suite of equity-focused policies to help low-income residents adopt this highly efficient technology.” 

“Marylanders are working together to reduce climate pollution from every sector, but burning fossil fuels indoors in the buildings where we live, work, learn, and pray is continuing to hurt our neighbors and damage our common home,” said Andrea Orozco, faithful advocacy lead at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “We welcome zero-emission heating equipment standards as a major step towards reckoning with and addressing the harms of gas-burning in our buildings. For all that has breath, we celebrate Governor Moore’s announcement.”

“Burning fossil fuels in our buildings is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland,” said Josh Tulkin, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director. “By developing zero-emission heating equipment standards this year, Maryland can make a measurable dent in climate pollution while delivering cleaner, healthier air for residents.” 

“Pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, and cancer,” said Emily Scarr, State Director at Maryland PIRG. “We applaud Gov. Moore for today’s announcement and look forward to supporting strong regulations to clean up our air, lower heating bills, and protect the health of Maryland families.”

Contact:
Anne Havemann, CCAN Action Fund: anne@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-630-2146
KC Chartrand, CCAN Action Fund. kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and beyond.

CCAN Statement on the Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster

Baltimore, MD – The Chesapeake Climate Action Network mourns the tragic loss of life on March 26 with the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Our hearts go out to the families of those who are presumed dead after the collapse. Our thoughts are with the immigrant community whose loved ones had been working on the bridge at the time of the collapse.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the greater Baltimore community rely on the Francis Scott Key Bridge and have had their daily life and commute disrupted.  As Baltimore seeks a path forward in the wake of this disaster, the entire staff and board of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network are thinking of our members most affected by the collapse and everyone in the Baltimore region.

EPA Announces Strong Final Soot Rule Offering More Protection for Communities

CCAN applauds as Biden Administration sets tougher industry standards that could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars


Washington, DC — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another bold step to curb carbon pollution with their announcement of a final rule update to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM 2.5), more commonly known as the soot rule. The new rule is EPA’s first change to the annual exposure limit for fine particles in more than a decade.

The EPA’s new soot rule is expected to save an estimated 4,500 lives and deliver $46 billion in health benefits by 2032 by setting an average yearly soot exposure standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down sharply from the current threshold of 12 micrograms.

President Joe Biden and EPA Administrator Michael Regan deserve tremendous credit for finalizing a strong soot rule that will save lives and provide cleaner air in our communities, especially communities of color overburdened by deadly particulate matter from power plants.

Statement from Quentin Scott, Federal Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN):

“Nearly one year ago we gathered at EPA headquarters demanding a strong final soot rule. On behalf of CCAN and our members, we applaud President Biden and Administrator Regan for listening and acting on the concerns of more than 150 environmental justice, frontline, faith, and community leaders. We look forward to the EPA finalizing additional pollution rules in the coming weeks and months to further curb pollution from power plants and protect the most vulnerable.” 

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Governor Moore Calls for Spending $1 Billion a Year to Fight Climate Change

Take Action: Tell Governor Moore to make a strong climate action plan!

Leading regional climate group praises Moore Administration’s unprecedented comprehensive plan to meet the state’s ambitious climate pollution reduction mandate of 60% by 2031, calls on him to lay out how to raise the funds


Baltimore, MD — Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently released the state’s final plan for reducing heat trapping pollution in line with state law. The plan includes specific recommendations for every sector of the economy which, if fully implemented, would reduce climate pollution 60% by 2031 and keep the state on track to eliminate net emissions by 2045.

“Governor Moore has done what no Maryland Governor has done before: put forward a plan to invest $1 billion a year in the clean energy economy to eliminate our net climate pollution,” said Jamie DeMarco, Maryland Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Fully implementing the investments and standards recommended in this report will lower energy bills, create good jobs, improve health outcomes, and achieve our pollution reduction mandates.” 

Governor Moore proposes funding the new investment through a combination of green revenue bonds, a cap and invest program, a carbon fee, a hazardous substances fee, a clean air toll, and a pollution fee on fuel burning-vehicles. These investments will pay for themselves many times over. The report says that, if fully implemented, this plan “will generate up to $1.2 billion in public health benefits, $2.5 billion in increased personal income, and a net gain of 27,400 jobs between now and 2031 as compared with current policies. Average households will save up to $4,000 annually on energy costs. Air quality and public health outcomes will improve for everyone, especially people living in historically underserved and overburdened communities.”

While the plan lays out potential options for raising the necessary revenue, it falls short of fully embracing a specific plan to generate the needed $1 billion. “It is Governor Moore’s responsibility to lead on the question of revenue raising, and not punt the hard choices to the legislature,” DeMarco added. “We also expect that the Governor will incorporate equity into every part of the state’s decarbonization process.” 

In addition to calling for necessary investments, the plan also lays out the standards and policies needed. It calls for a Zero-Emission Heating Equipment Standard, a 20% reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled, eliminating trash incineration from the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, 100% clean energy by 2035, and more. Each of these policies represents a tremendous victory for Maryland’s climate and communities. Taken together, they form the first ever comprehensive plan that, if fully funded, will reduce climate pollution at the necessary speed. 

Previously: Over 40 Maryland Groups Tell Governor Moore to “Get it Done by ‘31” for the Climate

Take Action: Tell Governor Moore to make a strong climate action plan!

 

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change  in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

CCAN Calls for Immediate Halt to Plan to Cut 1,200 Trees in Rock Creek Park

Mature trees are a vital part of regional ecosystem and climate resilience. CCAN joins other groups urging NPS to save the trees.


WASHINGTON, DC — Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and other environmental activist groups are speaking out against the proposal to remove over 1,200 trees from Rock Creek Park as part of a new plan to rehabilitate Rock Creek Golf Course. The environmental assessment, from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) and National Links Trust (NLT), calls for the removal of 1,200-plus trees – amounting to the loss of approximately 8 acres in tree canopy – “to restore the course to its former glory.”

Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated: 

“Rock Creek Park is a national treasure and an integral part of Washington, D.C.’s history, as well as a vital resource in our regional fight against climate change. If we want to preserve historic integrity and natural ecosystems, we should do everything we can to protect this park. There must be a way to fix the golf course’s problems without slashing eight acres of century-old trees.” 

Trees are one of our most potent resources  for combating climate change. Many of the trees in Rock Creek Park, sometimes called the “Lungs of DC,” are over 100 years old, each sequestering dozens of pounds of carbon each year. They also provide countless other benefits to people and wildlife, including helping to filter air and water, controlling stormwater, conserving energy, and providing wildlife habitat. 

The proposed NPS plan will eliminate swathes of forest cover, including significant portions of the densest forest patches in the site. Endangered Species like the Long Eared and Indiana Bats – whose populations have already been significantly harmed by the fungal white-nose syndrome – currently use these forests to roost and forage. Additionally, the Hay’s Spring Amphipod, which is only found in Rock Creek Park, shares habitat with the golf course and relies on forest cover for stormwater treatment. These species and others will lose valuable habitat they need to survive.

In 1927, when the proposed golf course design was conceived, the world had limited understanding of climate change and its devastating effects. Today, at a time when the District of Columbia has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, sacrificing a significant part of this treasured park area in order to spruce up an outdated golf course design is anachronistic and environmentally unsustainable. 

CCAN encourages citizens to act now and tell NPS to halt its plans to cut down over 1,200 trees in Rock Creek Park. National Park Service is accepting comments on this proposal until November 4, 2023 at 11:59 PM mountain time.

In addition to CCAN, other environmental groups are speaking out by calling for an extension to the comment period, including: Casey Trees, DC Environmental Network, DC Voters for Animals, Mighty Earth, Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative, People’s Alliance for Rock Creek (PARC), Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, City Wildlife, Capitol Hill Energy Co-Op, Sierra Club DC Chapter, Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats, Sticky Fingers Diner, Capital Nature, Green Compass, LLC, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), Citizens’ Climate Lobby DC Chapter, Nature Forward (formerly known as Audubon Naturalist Society), Langdon Park Forest Stewards, Anacostia Riverkeeper, and Anacostia Watershed Society.

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change  in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Broad Statewide Coalition Comments on Eliminating Maryland Climate Pollution

In responding to the Maryland Department of the Environment Climate Pathway Report, a broad coalition of environmental and justice organizations in Maryland have put forward comments in support of the state plan to combat inequities and meet the state’s ambitious pollution reduction mandates

Baltimore, MD — For the first time, a coalition of climate and justice advocates has put forward a comprehensive set of comments on actions to eliminate the state’s climate pollution. Climate Partners, the coalition that compiled the comments, praised Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for putting forward a comprehensive package of climate solutions in the form of the Maryland Climate Pathway Report released earlier this year.

“Governor Moore is less than a year into his first term in office, and already he is the first Governor of Maryland ever to propose a set of policies that would actually get Maryland to net-zero emissions,” said Kim Coble, Executive Director, Maryland LCV. “He deserves tremendous praise for that accomplishment, and we look forward to working with the Moore Administration to refine, pass, and implement these policies.”

In particular, advocates praised the Moore Administration’s plan to create air quality equipment standards that would, over time, eliminate air pollution from energy use in buildings. In September, a new report found that emissions from fossil fuel-powered furnaces and water heaters cause three times more air pollution than all of the state’s power plants combined. These findings underscore the importance of the air quality equipment standards proposed in MDE’s Pathway Report.

“Enacting Air Quality Equipment Standards, referred to as zero-emissions appliance standards in the report, is a critical step that the Moore Administration can take through executive action to address the climate crisis in Maryland,” said Jamie DeMarco, Maryland Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Governor Moore should waste no time in enacting this life-saving policy.”

MDE is currently turning the Pathway Report, meant to be one path to net zero, into official recommendations on behalf of the state. In submitting their comments today, Climate Partners are urging MDE to make improvements in the final recommendations. The powerful coalition communicated several changes, including that MDE recommend the end of all trash incineration in the state rather than listing trash incineration as a climate solution.

“Environmental justice and equity should be the framework for MDE’s recommendations,” said Robin Lewis, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)’s Director for Climate Equity. “Communities that are overburdened by the negative impacts of climate change should be in front of the line, not left behind, when implementing climate solutions as they have suffered enough.”

“Burning trash, biomass, and biogas emits more greenhouse gasses and more toxic compounds per unit of energy than coal. The inclusion of trash incineration as a climate solution in the Pathway Report is unacceptable,” said Staci Hartwell with the Maryland NAACP. “MDE must include the closure of all trash incinerators in their final recommendations for how to eliminate the state’s emissions.”

Advocates also urged stronger measures on vehicle miles traveled. Transportation is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Moore has shown tremendous leadership by speeding up the adoption of electric vehicles, but this transition will not happen quickly enough to achieve our legally mandated reduction of 60% by 2031. To do that, Maryland must find a way to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled. The Pathway Report actually results in an annual average VMT growth of 1% between 2020 and 2030.

“The Maryland Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Transportation, should develop a VMT reduction strategy that identifies and models policies, programs, and projects that will lead to a 20% per capita VMT reduction below 2019 levels by 2030,” said Lindsey Mendelson, Transportation Representative for the Maryland Sierra Club. “The VMT reduction strategy should include projects related to public transit, transit-oriented development, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and transportation demand management.”

The climate pathway report, required by the Climate Solutions Now Act, charts a course to net-zero emissions for the state and is largely aligned with the direction expressed by Climate Partners. As MDE creates their final recommendations for how the state should meet its ambitious pollution reduction mandates they should adopt the changes recommended by Climate Partners.

 

 

 

    • Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689

    • CASA

    • Cedar Lane Environmental Justice Ministry Unitarian Universalist Congregation

    • Center for Progressive Reform

    • Central Maryland Transportation Alliance

    • Chesapeake Climate Action Network

    • Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility

    • Climate Communications Coalition

    • Climate Law & Policy Project

    • Climate Reality Greater Maryland

    • Climate XChange Maryland

    • Earthjustice

    • Echotopia LLC

    • Elders Climate Action Maryland

    • Fix Maryland Rail

    • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

    • Howard County Climate Action

    • Indivisible Howard County

    • Institute for Market Transformation

    • Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)

    • League of Women Voters of Maryland

    • Maryland League of Conservation Voters

    • Maryland Legislative Coalition

    • MLC Climate Justice Wing

    • NAACP Maryland State Conference, Environmental and Climate Justice Committee

    • National Housing Trust

    • One Montgomery Green

    • Policy Foundation of Maryland

    • Progressive Maryland

    • Safe Healthy Playing Fields Inc.

    • Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

    • The Climate Mobilization Montgomery County Chapter TCM MoCo

    • Transform Maryland Transportation Coalition

    • Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland

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CCAN Joins Immigration, Faith, and Labor Groups at White House Rally Demanding Protected Status for More Climate Migrants

Washington, DC — In a powerful demonstration at the White House today, CCAN and allied immigration, faith, and labor organizations came together to urgently demand that the Biden Administration extend and expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from climate change-affected countries. Protestors called for current temporary protections granted to immigrants from El Salvador, Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua to be made permanent. And, while TPS was recently extended for hundreds of thousands of people, the protesters spotlighted the fact that migrants from Guatemala, Pakistan, and other countries facing severe climate change impacts still lack TPS designation or re-designation.

Statement from Ernesto Villasenor, Jr., CCAN Federal Campaign Coordinator:

“For decades, scientists have been sounding the alarm on human-induced climate change. And now the grim reality is that climate change-induced catastrophes are upon us, wreaking havoc on El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Guatemala – countries that are already grappling with food insecurity, political turmoil, and rising violence.

For five years, TPS holders from these crisis-ridden countries endured perpetual uncertainty with only short-term extensions from the US Department of Homeland Security. The recent TPS extension, though helpful, missed a crucial opportunity to demonstrate real leadership for climate migrants. It overlooked countries like Guatemala, Pakistan, and others hit by climate disasters, leaving them out of TPS. We’re at the White House to say, ‘Enough is enough! Families belong together, protected, and safe.” 

Climate change migration isn’t just about future coastal cities; it’s a current crisis. Thousands of Pakistanis, displaced by devastating floods, illustrate this fact. Despite a third of their country being submerged and nearly half a million people losing homes, they did not receive TPS. This highlights the urgent need to address climate-induced displacement now.

TPS fundamentally recognizes the imperative of providing immediate assistance and sanctuary to individuals who are unable to return safely to their countries of origin. It acknowledges that the dire circumstances they face are beyond their control and often require a temporary respite to rebuild their lives. Temporary Protected Status embodies the United States’ commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of the global community and providing them with a lifeline during times of great distress.

By excluding these individuals, the Biden administration exposes them to the same crises that TPS recipients are shielded from, which is illogical. This missed opportunity highlights a lack of true leadership and courage. The pursuit for #TPSJustice persists, and President Biden can still take action by re-designating today.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.chesapeakeclimate.org

Broad Coalition Urges Biden Administration to Expand Offshore Wind Maps

Coalition states: “We are proposing a win-win solution that would nearly double the acreage available for offshore wind”


ANNAPOLIS, MD—Today, a coalition of unions, developers, justice organizations, and climate organizations sent a joint public letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) urging the agency to expand the areas designated for offshore wind in the Central Atlantic.

BOEM is in the process of finalizing new maps for offshore wind development in the region, and has proposed new leasing areas that are too small to meet the region’s offshore wind mandates. A coalition of advocates have proposed an alternative map that would nearly double the new leasing area for offshore wind while meeting the needs of all other ocean users.

The letter includes, in part:

“BOEM estimates that, as currently proposed, the new Central Atlantic lease areas would accommodate between 4 and 8 gigawatts of offshore wind. Even taking the upper estimate of this range, the lease areas cannot accommodate the offshore wind needed in this region. Virginia is required by law to build 5.2 gigawatts of offshore wind. North Carolina must build 8 gigawatts of offshore wind, and Maryland just passed a law to build 8.5 gigawatts. Some of that energy can come from existing lease areas, but to meet those targets set in law, those three states need more than 11 gigawatts of offshore wind in the new lease areas. On top of that, Delaware is also reliant on the Central Atlantic for its offshore wind energy, and while it is not currently building any, it is expected to pass its first offshore wind legislation in 2024.

Offshore wind is vital to our future. It holds the promise of affordable, clean energy that creates hundreds of good union jobs and reduces air pollution. Limiting offshore wind comes with costs. It means fewer jobs, worse pollution, and a less affordable and reliable transition to a clean energy economy. While there are other ocean users whose needs must be accommodated, we are proposing a win-win solution that would nearly double the acreage available for offshore wind in the Central Atlantic while not reducing the width or number of Coast Guards fairways and while not encroaching on ocean space conflicted with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). We hope BOEM will expand the space available for offshore wind in the Central Atlantic by adopting the map [provided].”

Click HERE to read the letter in full.

Coalition signers include: Advanced Energy United ● Audubon Mid-Atlantic ● Baltimore-DC Metro Building and Construction Trades Council ● Business Network for Offshore Wind ● CASA ● Chesapeake Climate Action Network ● Climate Law & Policy Project ● Climate Reality Greater Maryland ● Elders Climate Action Maryland ● Environmental Justice Ministry Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church ● IBEW Local Union 24 ● Indivisible Howard County ● Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake ● Ironworkers Mid-Atlantic States District Council ● MAREC Action ● Maryland LCV ● Maryland Legislative Coalition ● MLC Climate Justice Wing ● NAACP Maryland State Conference, Environmental and Climate Justice Committee ● Strum Contracting Company Inc. ● Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry ● United Steelworkers District 8

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change  in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.