By Elizabeth Shwe Hannah Gaskill
The Maryland House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to the Climate Solutions Now Act on Monday, with changes that include delaying the date for the state to reach an interim greenhouse gas reduction goal and requiring newly constructed buildings to be ready to get off of fossil fuels.
The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, sponsored by Sens. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George’s), Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and 25 additional senators, would expedite the statewide goal to achieve carbon neutral emissions by 2045, primarily through requiring large buildings to reduce their carbon footprint over the next decade.
On Friday, two key House committees voted to approve several changes to the sweeping climate bill, including delaying the date by which an interim greenhouse gas reduction goal — to reduce emissions to 60% of 2006 levels — must be met, from 2030 to 2031. The bill would also now require newly constructed buildings to be prepared to switch to electric power and no longer require the construction of net-zero school buildings by local school districts.
However, the amended bill would give some financial aid to local school districts that decide to build net-zero school buildings. More specifically, certain counties can receive 5% more of the state share for school construction projects if the project is a net-zero school. Read more at Maryland Matters.
Photo: The Maryland State House File photo by Danielle E. Gaines.
