A new video about the states who are taking action to address climate change is out from Sea Studios Foundation titled “Ahead of the Curve: States Lead on Climate Change.” It features Maryland’s own Governor O’Malley and a variety of other governors and elected officials from across the country. (14 min)
Hundreds Rally with O'Malley for Global Warming Solutions
Three hundred of you showed up to rally with Gov. O’Malley on March 5th and, as the governor said as he addressed the cheering crowd, it was truly amazing to see so many of you join together on a Wednesday morning to rally for global warming solutions! The General Assembly is sure to have heard our call: Take Action on Global Warming this Year!
Md Students to Celebrate with Governor, Take on the State House
Maryland students just keep getting more awesome (since I don’t normally get to work with them, I think I’m justified in being super-excited). After pounding the pavement for months to get support for the USM schools to go carbon neutral, they’re stepping up to the plate to help pass state legislation. Continue reading
Yesterday Gov. O'Malley became my climate hero
“The climate crisis is real, and we must act now to reduce global climate change. I believe if we act responsibly we can help reduce the effects of global warming, but also create thousands of green jobs for Maryland’s economy.”
— Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, February 19, 2008
In a dramatic press conference Tuesday, Governor Martin O’Malley threw his “strong, strong support” behind one of America’s strongest global warming bills. It was a truly historic day, and when leaders do the right thing we should show our appreciation. Please, please click here to thank to Gov. O’Malley right now. Continue reading
Gov. O'Malley supports global warming solutions; old guard still wrong on jobs
Huge news for Marylanders today: Governor Martin O’Malley is going to announce his support for the Global Warming Solutions Act! Check out the AP and Sun articles about it. Last year, O’Malley’s support meant that the Clean Cars bill passed. This year, it means that the pressure on Sen. Miller and Del. Busch is building, and might help push them off the fence in favor of the Global Warming Solutions Act.
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 (SB-309, HB-712), which is in Senate hearings TODAY, would require Maryland to reduce its global warming pollution 25% by 2020 and 90% by 2050 as cost-effectively as possible, as recommended by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. These targets, based on what scientists recommend is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming, would be the strongest in the nation. Read more about the bill>>
There’s still strong opposition to the bill, largely from interests that FALSELY think that the bill would lose jobs for the economy. “It’s not going to be at all positive for the economy, but this legislature and this administration [don’t] care,” says Republican Sen. David R. Brinkley, the Senate minority leader from Frederick County. “They are more interested in making political statements about saving the Earth than saving Maryland jobs.”
Instead of relying on Senator Brinkley for information on how this bill will affect jobs in Maryland, I like to rely on business leaders. Leaders like Rex Wright, of Johnson Controls, Inc. Rex is the Installation Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Johnson Controls specializes in building efficiency and Rex will testify before the Senate Committee on Education Health and the Environment today. Here’s a snippet of what’ he’ll have to say:
“Sustainability initiatives create jobs,” stated Rex Wright of Johnson Controls, Inc., a business specializing in building efficiency. “The soon to be completed energy efficiency initiatives between Johnson Controls, Inc. and Baltimore City Public Schools, for example, created over 200 jobs, over 50 of which were created for minority and women -owned businesses. Sustainability works; it creates jobs.”