On Friday, Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md., vetoed the Clean Energy
Jobs Act, a bill that would have expanded Maryland’s renewable portfolio
standard (RPS). Before the 2016 Maryland legislative session adjourned in
April, state lawmakers had finalized the bill and sent it to Hogan for
consideration.
Specifically, the legislation would have boosted the current
RPS from 20% by 2022 (with a 2% solar carve-out) to 25% by 2020 (with a 2.5%
solar carve-out). According to estimations from the Maryland Climate Coalition,
the accelerated target would have resulted in approximately 1.3 GW more of
clean energy and hundreds of new jobs. Among other provisions, the bill also
would have established a working group to explore ways to help with clean
energy job training.
In his veto letter, Hogan writes, “This legislation is a tax
increase that will be levied upon every single electricity ratepayer in
Maryland, and for that reason alone, I cannot allow it to become law.” He
charges that the bill would have led to a rise in taxes of between $49 million
and $196 million by 2020.
Unsurprisingly, the solar industry and environmental groups
have denounced Hogan’s veto, as RPS policies, which require state utilities to
procure a certain amount of renewable energy, are key incentives for clean
energy development.
MDV-SEIA, an organization representing solar stakeholders in
Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, says it is “deeply
disappointed” by the governor’s “shortsighted decision.”
“Honestly, we’re confused,” remarks Omar Terrie, the groups’
policy director, in a statement. “Governor Hogan ran his campaign on supporting
Maryland jobs. That’s what our industry brings. This veto puts thousands of
solar jobs and hundreds of local companies at risk. Moreover, this veto
endangers the livelihood of thousands of Marylanders and will stall millions in
economic investment.”
Although Hogan writes in his letter that “Maryland retains
its status as a national leader” under its existing 20% by 2022 renewables
mandate, MDV-SEIA argues that the veto “leaves the state with a lackluster RPS
that is far from the leaderboard.”
In the conclusion to his veto letter, Hogan also refers
specifically to solar: “While I appreciate the economic benefit of Maryland’s
growing solar industry, there is also a corresponding cost which is borne by
all citizens [under the proposed legislation]. I believe the state should not
add to this burden.”
Josh Tulkin, director of the Maryland Sierra Club, calls
Hogan’s veto “deeply flawed.”
“The Clean Energy Jobs Act was a win-win-win for Maryland
because it had the support of businesses and environmentalists, grew the clean
energy workforce in our state and deployed over a gigawatt of new renewable energy,”
says Tulkin in a statement.
He adds, “The governor has stifled clean energy job growth
in Maryland through this veto and walked back on his own promise in the new
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act to fight climate change while growing jobs.”
However, the governor’s veto does not necessarily mean the
end of the bill: Because both chambers of the state legislature passed it with
a veto-proof majority, lawmakers are slated to take an override vote in an
upcoming session. Unless they choose to hold a special session, though, the
override will be discussed in the next regular session, which starts in January
2017.
“Given the overwhelming support for this bill in the General
Assembly and the general public, we are confident in a veto override next
year,” states Tulkin. “Marylanders want clean energy, and they want to lead the
clean energy economy.”
Earlier this year, a survey released by the Maryland Climate
Coalition found that nearly three-quarters (71%) of Maryland voters supported
the expansion of the state’s RPS, even if it would add up to 50 cents per month
to their electric bill.
No comments:
Post a Comment