The Baltimore Sun
By Mike Tidwell
I recently stood on the windy coast of North Carolina where Orville and Wilbur Wright made their maiden flight in 1903. That motorized glider, constructed with bicycle parts, lifted off and flew nearly 900 feet in 59 seconds. Americans, astonishingly, were walking on the moon 66 years later.
Exciting news for Maryland climate action aficionados! A plenary session of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change convened in Baltimore today for a final discussion and review of their hotly anticipated Climate Action Plan, and I had a front row seat to all the action. The Plan is officially scheduled for public release on June 25th, so mark your calendars and prepare a nice cozy spot to kick back and enjoy what is sure to be a truly climatolicious read.
Though access to advance copies of the report has been restricted thus far to Commission members and government officials, the Commissioners did drop a few tantalizing hints as to its content. According to commissioner George “Tad” Aburn, the real meat of the report is contained in Chapter 2 – a comprehensive assessment of climate change in MD – Chapter 4 on carbon reduction strategies and Chapter 5 on adaptation strategies. Most of the content is sure to be on the wonky side, but for those of you who’d prefer a more publicly accessible version, fear not, there’s an executive summary for the uninitiated. Indeed, the report contains something for climate watchers of all stripes. Of particular interest to the CCAN community is the Chapter entitled Next Steps which discusses work that will need to be done in coming months to turn the report’s stellar recommendations into stellar public policy. To that end, the Commissioners will be meeting informally with environmental, labor, and industrial interests over the next few months to start hammering out a policy road map that everyone can live with. A more formal stakeholder process will follow in September, and the Commission will also sit down with Governor O’Malley sometime before summer’s end.
At the end of what turned out to be the shortest meeting in the Commission’s history the commissioners formally ratified the new report by unanimous vote. If the report ends up bearing legislative fruit, it would undoubtedly propel Maryland to the head of the learning curve on the national climate action front by putting the state on a path to an spectacularly ambitious 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, and 90 percent by 2050. Such bold action would be particularly apropos for a state that is so vulnerable to climate change, and would set a fantastic example for other states and our foot-dragging federal neighbors to follow. So lets make sure that our legislators get on the ball this year and heed the recommendations of the Commission. The rewards of action will be a boon to Maryland and the country at large; the cost of inaction could be unthinkable.
Just how unthinkable? Log on to the Commission’s website on the 25th and download your personal copy of the report to find out.
With all the rain that’s coming down, it’s no wonder that 2 of CCAN’s staffers had to deal with flooded basements last week. I came home (after being soaked at the Radiohead concert) to ankle deep water, which was coming in through the walls and floors. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice to have a rain barrel so that I could collect some of this water?
As luck would have it, Aquabarrel is offering CCANers a 20% discount on their rain barrels! Contact me at susanna@chesapeakeclimate.org for the promo code.
Letter from John Jensen, organizer of the Annapolis Blues Society:
Dear Friends,
On May 24, 2008…8:00 PM I’m taking part in the effort to raise awareness of our “global warming situation” by putting together a music concert to benefit the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN).
Some great musicians have joined in to make up a great bill for the evening: Neil Harpe will be playing his traditional blues, the Joe Byrd Trio is doing some jazz music, Julia Gibb is bringing her Hawaiian style hula group to show us some beautiful authentic dancing and music, and Tina Ward is coming down from Baltimore to perform some of her original music. And I’m doing a couple of my original blues songs on the theme of Global warming as well as a couple of classics.
All in all it should be a pretty stimulating evening. Plenty of the CCAN people will be there to chat with, so if you actually do care about getting active in the Climate Change Movement it will be a good chance to meet some of likeminded individuals.
The tax deductible donation of $50 gets you a reservation and a seat at the Powerhouse at Loews Annapolis Hotel. Once again May 24, 8:00 PM. You can pay online at www.annapolisbluessociety.com and click on “buy tickets.”
I hope you can join John and the rest of the Annapolis Blues Society for this benefit! CCAN is really looking forward to taking part in this exciting event!
The Maryland Student Climate Coalition (MSCC) is hosting a State Summit! With the momentum of their recent victory in making the University System of Maryland to go carbon neutral the MSCC is gathering to plan their next big campaign.
Our movement is growing and the MSCC is expanding to include ALL SCHOOLS in MD!
Here is a message from Erica Stout, Co-Coordinator of the MSCC:
Come be a climate leader for the state of Maryland!!
A lot has happened this year around global warming in MD, from
PowerShift in our own state, to our fight for the Global Warming
Solutions act, to the Maryland Student Climate Coalition’s victory in
getting 13 Universities in MD to pledge climate neutrality!!!!
There are HUGE opportunities to make MD a leader in the fight against global
warming and we are building immense momentum at all of our schools.
Now it is time for us all to come together and plan what steps we can take,
to use our power to make change in our state!! Come celebrate the end of Earth Week
with us and culminate your work for the year at the Maryland Student Climate Coalition Summit!!!
STATE SUMMIT, @ UMD April 25-27
Join dozens of other climate leaders from across MD at a
STATE SUMMIT April 25-27 where we will plan our next
campaign, get trained, and begin to build our momentum to hit the ground
running next semester!
Click here to register for the summit!
SUMMIT LOGISTICS:
WHEN: Friday April 25- Sunday April 27!!! We will begin Friday evening and finish Sunday, early afternoon.
WHERE: University of Maryland, College Park.
Sleeping Arrangements: We will be buddying up people from other schools to stay with UMD students. Mark in the registration form (Register Here!!) if you will need a place to stay in College Park.
Logistics: We hope to cover a majority of the meals (vegetarian, with
vegan options) with a contribution from our hosts from Clean Energy for UMD through the MD
Co-Op. Yum! Breakfast may be on your own.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:
1. Register for the summit!!!!
2. Tell your friends and your group!!! Pass around a sign up sheet at your next meeting, then register them through the same form.
3. Help us make this a success! Email me at ericastout@gmail.com or Andrew at anazdin@gmail.com if you would like to help out. Email Liz at lizlacoco@gmail.com to join the recruitment working group, or Hanna at hpoffenb@umd.edu to help with the agenda
Email me if you have any questions, thoughts, suggestions or concerns!!!
Erica Stout
(301) 787-2059
Co-Coordinator
Maryland Student Climate Coalition
With Maryland in the midst of figuring out its energy future, it is up to citizens to voice their opinions about what is best for themselves and the environment of Maryland. Recent strides towards increased nuclear development, especially at the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant near Lusby, MD, not only threaten the health of the Chesapeake Bay, but area residents as well. It is time for Maryland to speak out, and this Earth Day, someone is going to get $500 for doing just that.
Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) are using the recent book “Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free; A Roadmap for U.S. Foreign Policy” by IEER President Dr. Arjun Makhijani as the basis for an Earth Day Viral Video Contest. The contest challenges citizens to create a video to be put on YouTube that addresses the concept outlined in Makhijani’s book.
Submitted videos cannot run longer than 3 minutes and group submissions cannot exceed more than 10 people. Every group must register via e-mail and submit their video by April 17th. Those submitting the winning video will receive $500.
The video submissions will be shown the evening of Earth Day, April 22 at St. Mary’s College following a presentation by Arjun Makhijani, author of “Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free; A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy.” After the viewing, the winning submission will be announced and a $500 cash prize will be given to the winner(s). All submissions will be put on YouTube.
Makhijani is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. His book, published in 2007, outlines the plausible transformation of the U.S. to a carbon emissions free society by the year 2050 without the use of nuclear energy. Instead, he emphasizes energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The use of viral sharing has been pivotal in recent environmental and political campaigns and is a hallmark of the future of grassroots organizing. The contest is intended to us this method while exploring viable energy solutions for Maryland and the country as a whole.
For additional information about the Earth Day Viral Video Contest, or to register contact Rachel Roscoe at rroscoe@citizen.org or at (202) 454-5129.
The Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act was voted down by the House Economic Matters Committee Tuesday night by a margin of 18-2. The bill, which would have required a 25 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, had earlier passed the Senate.
It is important to note that the senate version had a “poison pill” amendment that would have rolled back the regulatory authority of the Maryland Department of the Environment and required multiple future votes by the General Assembly before the state agency could take any steps to reduce pollution.
Among those voting last night to kill the weakened Senate version of the bill were leading Democrats, including Del. Dereck Davis, chairman of the economic matters committee, and Del. Brian McHale of Baltimore, a strong union supporter.
Below is a list of delegates and how they voted. Since the bill had been weakened in the Senate, so much so that the Maryland League of Conservation Voters opposed the final version, it is not possible with just this information to determine whether the legislators voted against the bill because the didn’t want it at all or because they didn’t want the weakened version.
We will be compiling more information on why legislators voted they way they did but while we do that, why not ask them yourself? Below is a list of how your legislator voted, with email addresses: Continue reading
Other environmental bills survive, with multiple victories for the climate
Maryland lawmakers killed a bill last night that would have required major cuts in carbon dioxide emissions. The bill was a victim of the crush of work and lack of time that usually plagues the last day of the session.
For environmental lobbyists, the defeat stung. The global warming bill was one of the top priorities of a coalition of environmental and conservation groups.
“The legislature really dropped the ball,” said Claire Douglass of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Cindy Schwartz, director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, attributed the defeat of the bill in part to fear-mongering. She said the threat of losing jobs due to the bill – even though that’s only conjecture – is a tried-and-true way to kill a bill.
“It’s very powerful to say to someone if this bill passes, they’ll lose their jobs. It’s not a new tactic,” she said in an interview with the Annapolis Capital.
Despite the defeat, there were multiple victories for the climate:
Strategic Energy Investment Program: Create funds to decrease energy demand and increase energy supply.
Energy Efficiency: Set goal of a 15% reduction in per capita electricity consumption by 2015.
Renewable Energy Portfolio: Boost to 20% portion of state energy portfolio derived from wind, solar and other renewable sources.
Energy-efficient buildings: Require new or renovated state buildings and schools to meet standards of efficiency.
Solar Energy Grant Program: Increase amounts of grants available.
For more depth on this session’s climate victories, visit the Maryland League of Conservation Voter’s 2008 Environmental Legislative wrap-up.
CCAN, the Alliance for Global Warming Solutions, and everyone else working on this bill are not giving up. The fight for comprehensive global warming legislation in Maryland goes on.
Today MD House Economic Matters Committee is considering the Global Warming Solutions Act. If passed out of committee, the House and Senate are expected to pass the bill quickly before session ends at midnight tonight. For a good overview of the narrative of events, check out the Baltimore Sun’s Blog.
The debate over this bill, I think, is going to be indicative of the struggle ahead for two reasons:
1. Separation of green jobs opportunities and job losses
2. Strong leadership support
Green jobs have the potential to create an entire new industry in Maryland. By encouraging development of a green jobs sector now, before the mad rush begins, Maryland gets ahead in building the infrastructure, knowledge, and expertise in the industry. Jobs may be lost in some industries, but those workers could be provided with a just transition to this new, lucrative, green economy. Opposition has pitted job losses against the bill without making the connection to green jobs opportunities. Specifically, MD’s United Steelworkers have come out to oppose the bill because of potential losses at Sparrows Point steel mill. Despite the opportunities that green jobs would create for these workers and despite the support of the national arm of United Steelworkers for a transition to green jobs, the local group has launched a concentrated attack on this bill.
The other important element of this fight is the presence of overwhelming leadership support. Governor O’Malley’s “strong, strong support” of this bill has been a cornerstone of this campaign. The environmental community has come together and formed one of the strongest coalitions in Maryland to date. The Alliance for Global Warming Solutions has brought together over 100 partners in support of this bill. For a list of all the organizations, go to the Alliance website here:http://www.alliancemd.org/plan.htm.
We have yet to see whether the house and senate leadership can come together today. Stay tuned for more updates!
