Maryland Boosts Clean Energy, Bay Restoration

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, May 27, 2004 (ENS) - Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr. signed legislation Wednesday that will increase the state's renewable energy production and consumption, as well as a bill that funds efforts to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

The state currently gets less than one percent of its electricity from clean, renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar.

The new law - the Maryland Clean Energy Bill - requires the state's utilities to increase the amount of renewable energy to 7.5 percent by 2014.

With the law's enactment, Maryland is the 15th state to adopt a renewable energy standard.

"We applaud the governor for supporting such an important economic and environmental initiative," said Gigi Kellett of the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, which spearheaded an effort to get the state legislature to approve the bill.

"This legislation guarantees a local demand for renewable energy and positions Maryland and the region to benefit from the growing marketplace," Kellett said.

The law comes as interest in renewable energy technologies in the Mid-Atlantic region is on the rise, said Kellett, who coauthored a report last year that found the Mid-Atlantic region has ample opportunity to boost clean, renewable energy - in particular wind.

The region has enough land based natural wind resources to provide more than 17 percent of current electricity demand, according to the report.

"Investments in renewable energy increase the job and tax base while at the same time helping reduce air and water pollution," Kellett added.

Ehrlich also signed legislation expanding Maryland's net metering law, which allows electricity meters to run backward when on-site solar power generators produce more electricity than is used. The excess solar energy is sent to the power grid for use by others.

The law expands eligible resources to include wind power and allows business customers to qualify for the program.

Another bill signed into law Wednesday by Ehrlich sets up a fund to pay for upgrades of the state's 66 sewage treatment plants in order to to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund will cost some $1 billion and will be funded by a $2.50 monthly fee on the sewer bills of Maryland residents.

Last year the Bay's dead zones - areas starved of oxygen because of nitrogen pollution - reached record levels, stretching some 150 miles from Baltimore to the York River in Virginia.