Clean Water Action

Maryland

Current Campaigns

Global Warming Solutions Act

On March 22, the State Senate voted 31-16 to pass SB 309, the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill now goes to the House of Delegates where it will be considered by the Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committees in the coming days.

The bill passed with a weakening amendment that would require additional legislative approval before state agencies began to implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean Water Action and allies are now seeking to work with members of the House of Delegates to pass a version of the bill without the weakening amendment, and to send a strong bill to the Governor that will allow Maryland agencies to act swiftly to address the climate change crisis.

Edwards Wins Democratic Primary in Maryland

Thanks to your support, Donna Edwards won the Democratic primary on February 12 by a margin of 60% to 35%!

We are very excited to have helped play a big role in her victory! Thanks to all our members who supported Donna. We look forward to her ultimate victory in November and to working with her to improve our environment and our communities!

Clean Water Action Endorses For Donna Edwards U.S. Congress Maryland District 4

"I want to represent Maryland's 4th Congressional District because we are facing some of the most compelling environmental and conservation challenges of our generation. We have an opportunity to meet these challenges with political, legislative, and advocacy leadership, but it must happen now. As your member of Congress, I will make it happen." -- Donna Edwards

Donna Edwards has the experience

• Led the campaign to reinvest in Oxon Hill and worked with community to make sure that environmental concerns were heard by decision-makers.
• A proven champion of rail over the Wilson Bridge as a key component of developing regional transit alternatives and won developer support for this.
• Co-founded and served as the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Donna Edwards has the solutions

• Move America away from dependence on fossil fuels to reduce effects of climate change and improve air quality.
• Restore and protect America's waterways and improve funding for drinking water infrastructure.
• Establish a Renewable Electricity Standard and create new "green-collar" jobs.
• Improve energy efficiency standards to save energy and save consumers money.
• Increase fuel efficiency standards to make new cars go further on a gallon of gas.

Vote for Donna Edwards Tuesday, February 12!

Want to volunteer? Need a Yard Sign? Call 202-895-0420. Download a flyer (pdf) about Dona Edwards.

Paid for and authorized by Clean Water Action Vote Environment.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

Healthy Air Act Signed Into Law After Two-Year Campaign

On Thursday, April 6, Governor Robert Ehrlich signed the Healthy Air Act (HAA) into law, capping a two-year campaign for reduction of emissions of four major pollutants from Maryland's dirtiest power plants. The new law is the strongest piece of enacted legislation in the United States to address nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury and carbon dioxide (CO2).

The law also requires Maryland to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced "Reggie"), a multi-state effort to reduce "greenhouse gases" such as carbon dioxide. The New York Times noted that "Maryland is more reliant on coal-fired power plants than are the other states in the regional pact, and the enactment of such tough pollution control legislation there is considered a major environmental victory."

Maryland is:

• the 1st state, that receives a majority of its electricity from coal, to commit to carbon dioxide reductions from plants statewide.
• the 7th state to formally reject the flawed federal toxics trading regulation by adopting more stringent pollution limits that must be met via pollution reduction at each facility.
• the 1st state in the country to adopt four-pollutant legislation.

Governor Ehrlich's proposed "Clean Power Rule" was evidence of his recognition that Maryland had to speed up the cleanup of its dirtiest power plants, and to reach higher goals through clean-up of plants here in Maryland, rather than through the purchase of extra emission allowances from out-of-state facilities. The Healthy Air Act is stronger than the proposed Clean Power Rule, though, in several ways. Perhaps most importantly, the Healthy Air Act places emission limits directly into the law, rather than adopting them by rule that could be weakened by administrative action.

The HAA will permanently prevent more than 1700 lbs. of toxic mercury from being released into Maryland's environment every year (by requiring an 80% capture rate in 2010 and 90% capture rate in 2013 at every facility). The HAA also requires Maryland to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a consortium of eastern states committed to mandatory CO2 reductions from power plants. Maryland will be the first RGGI state that receives a majority of its electricity from coal to commit to CO2 reductions from electricity-generating units (EGU's) statewide, and could encourage neighboring Pennsylvania, the last uncommitted state in the region, to join as well.

Clean Water staff thanks Clean Water Action's Maryland members, who sent 3,779 letters and made over 400 calls to the Governor and state legislators during the course of this year's campaign. That sort of broad-based grassroots support for cleaning up Maryland's power plants made the difference in a campaign where the energy industry went all-out to defeat the bill.

This year's election campaigns will provide a good opportunity to thank and hold accountable incumbent state senators and delegates for their votes for the Healthy Air Act. Ask incumbents about their votes on the issue, and ask all candidates what they will do, if elected, to build on this year's major environmental victory to continue to restore and protect Maryland's air and water.

Water Conservation Tips

Protect the Environment and Save Money!

Brushing Teeth/Washing Hands: Shut off the faucet while brushing teeth, lathering hands or shaving until it is time to rinse.

Showers: Hardware stores sell inexpensive showerheads that reduce water-flow. Look for one with a button that allows you to turn off the water (without adjusting temperature) so that you can turn off the water while not using it (lathering or rinsing).

Toilet Tanks: If you don't have an efficient toilet (1 gallon per flush) fill a liter jug with water and some rocks (so it won't float) and place the jug in the toilet's tank to reduce water use.

Car Washing: If using commercial car washes, choose facilities which recycle their water. When washing at home, use a bucket and hose down when finished. Some people can wash a car while using only one bucket of water. How close can you come to one bucket?

Lawns: When watering your lawn, water after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation.

Laundry: Use the minimum setting for the size of the load and only wash full loads.

Dishwashing: Only run the dishwasher when full. Do not run water while hand washing dishes. With a full stack to wash and a double sink, fill one side with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If a single sink, fill with soapy water, wash dishes, set to side on rack or towel, drain sink, fill with as little rinse water as needed.

Restaurants: If you own a restaurant, ask your customers before filling water glasses for their tables.