2010 in Annapolis

The 427th Session of the Maryland General Assembly began on January 13, 2010 in Annapolis.  Despite the recession and Maryland's overwhelming budget deficit, Governor O'Malley has laid out some ambitious plans for clean energy this year.    UMD for Clean Energy has two legislative priorities for this year.  They are:
  1. Loan Funds for residential energy efficiency improvements:  We are currently working to fix a piece of legislation from last year that would potentially allow municipalities such as College Park to offer a loan fund. Currently it is illegal for College Park to start a loan fund because cities do not have the authority to be accountable for the principle of a loan, and a loan is not allowed to be promoted to a tax lean if the property owner defaults.  We are hoping to pass a legislative fix that would resolve these issues so that the city of College Park can offer residents a loan fund to help them retrofit their homes (see links below). 
  2.  Revitalization Tax Credit: We are lobbying for the state to allow cities to offer a revitalization tax credit to attract new businesses. The tax credit would allow a city to have a list of criteria that a business would have to meet to qualify for a tax break, which could include that a business be local or that a business offers green goods or services.  We’re hoping that such a tax credit would help cities like College Park to bring in new green businesses.    

Check out the Clean Energy Loan Program bill here:
House version: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb1014.htm
Senate version:http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0720.htm
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Members of UMD for Clean Energy with Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk in Annapolis
We’ll be taking trips to Annapolis to lobby our elected officials on these issues and more, beginning in the first week of the semester with a meeting with the District 21 team to talk about our priorities and voice our concerns.  We also hope to assist other environmental organizations in the state such as Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Environment Maryland, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, and MoveOn.org.   Other things that we would like to see happen in Maryland this year:
  • Pass a bill requiring that the University of Maryland go through the same development procedures as any private business (right now UMD is exempt)
  • Stop the proposed MAPP and PATH transmission lines that would bring more energy from burning coal to Maryland
  • Comprehensive Energy Plan for the State
  • Change the state’s transportation budget so that more money goes to alternative, more sustainable transportation