Howard and Montgomery Counties to Develop Watershed Management Plan
Howard and Montgomery Counties are working together to develop a watershed management plan for the Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed. Public hearings will be held in May in both counties to discuss the plan.
The objectives of the watershed management plan are to compile existing information on the watershed and to provide a qualitative characterization and assessment of the watershed. The plan is a part of a goal developed to protect the Patuxent Reservoirs in the Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Agreement.
The first public hearing will be held May 5, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reservoir High School, 11550 Scaggsville Rd. Fulton, MD 20759. Another will be held May 14, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wildlife Achievement Chapter-Izaak Walton League, 26430 Mullinix Mill Rd., Mt Airy, Md. 21771.
2009 General Assembly Session Environmental Legislation Recap
The 90-day Maryland General Assembly Session ended late Monday night. The Maryland Chamber took positions on 209 of the 2,674 bills and joint resolutions introduced. Some of the environmental legislation highlights included:
Re-regulation: The Maryland Chamber, working with other interested business and labor organizations, helped defeat legislation (SB 844/HB 1530) that would have attempted to partially re-regulate Maryland’s electric market by allowing the PSC to require utilities to build new power plants and set rates. The proposal would have re-established the integrated resource planning process that was in place prior to electric restructuring in 1999 and required each electric company to develop and submit long-range plans regarding electricity needs and the means to meet those needs. The proposal would have exempted large commercial and industrial companies, but would have imposed a nonbypassable surcharge on these companies, in order to fund the construction of new power plants. While the Senate passed the proposal, the House Economic Matters Committee voted instead to study the issue over the summer.
Standing: The General Assembly passed compromise legislation (SB 1065/HB 1569) between the business and environmental communities, which was supported by the Maryland Chamber. The legislation repeals specified contested case hearing provisions related to permitting decisions by the Department of the Environment. It would authorize judicial review of permitting and license decisions by the Department at the request of certain persons that meet specified federal standing requirements and participate in a public participation process. The compromise provides for increased participation regarding permitting decisions, while ensuring certain protections to the business community, and providing for a more rapid permit process.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The General Assembly passed legislation (SB 278/ HB 315) that requires the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. The legislation, which exempts manufacturers from contributing to the required 25 percent reduction, would be up for review by the legislature in 2016. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce took no position on this legislation due to the broad range of industries the Chamber represents, and the varying positions among its members.
To read a full review of the 2009 General Assembly Session click here.
Maryland Clean Energy Center to be Headquartered in Montgomery County
Montgomery County will be home to the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC), as was announced last week by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Legget and the MCEC Board of Directors.
The MCEC was established through legislation in last year’s General Assembly session, to grow the state’s renewable energy supply, promote energy efficiency and create green collar jobs.
Its headquarters will be located at the LEED-gold certified Camille Kendall Academic Center at the Universities at Shady Grove.
“Maryland has emerged as a national leader in smart, green, and growing initiatives, and this exciting announcement today demonstrates our unified commitment as One Maryland to this cause,” O’Malley said in a release. “These developments mark yet another large step towards increased green collar jobs for our workers and a cleaner, greener Maryland for our families.”
Chamber Supports Environmental Standing Legislation with Amendments
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce yesterday delivered testimony in support with amendments on environmental standing legislation HB 1053, an updated version of SB 824/HB 1569.
HB 1569 would repeal specified contested case hearing provisions related to permitting decisions by the Department of the Environment. It would authorize judicial review of specified permitting and license decisions by the Department at the request of specified persons that meet specified federal standing requirements and participate in a specified public participation process.
The new legislation provides for increased participation regarding permitting decisions, while ensuring certain protections to the business community. Amendments desired by the business community include changes to the stay provisions, and strengthen the provisions about judicial review and compiling the record.
Click here to view a PDF of the Chamber’s full position statement.
The Economic Matters Committee is scheduled to vote on the legislation today.
House Environmental Matters Committee Chair Maggie McIntosh has been working with representatives from local government, the business community and the environmental community in an attempt to reach a compromise over the environmental standing legislation (SB 824/ HB1053).
She released details of a potential compromise yesterday. Key points include:
* The adoption federal standing for judicial review of a list of permit challenges;
* The elimination of contested cases and administrative appeals (meaning permits are immediately effective on issuance unless a stay is issued);
* No citizen suits, and no intervention in enforcement actions;
* Judicial review of variances issues by the critical area commission; and
* Provision for a 60 day extension of the permit comment period upon request.
This week’s hearing on SB 824 has been rescheduled for March 31. The Maryland Chamber will hold a meeting of interested parties to discuss the proposed compromise at the Maryland Chamber office, 60 West St., Suite 100, Annapolis, MD 21401, on Friday, March 20 at 11 a.m. For more information about this legislation contact Vice President of Government Affairs Allyson Black at .
When it comes to lowering energy costs there are a few solutions that provide immediate savings and take little time, such as turning off lights, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, and investing in a programmable thermostat. However, to maximize your energy and savings potential, an energy audit on your business or home may be a worthwhile venture.
An energy audit takes two to three hours to perform and examines everything from insulation quality to appliance efficiency.
President of Greenspring Energy Paul Witteman said that results from the audit will depend on the space and business-type, but that there is general information and recommendations that can be provided from an audit.
Witteman said there are steps business owners and homeowners can take themselves to save energy but that an energy audit may provide additional valuable information.
Listen to the audio clip to hear Witteman give an overview of the auditing process, pricing options, and actions you can take yourself to save energy in your office or home.
Secretary Wilson Discusses Potential Impact of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 on Maryland
Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari Wilson discussed the potential impact of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 (SB 278/HB 315) on Maryland’s economy and business community at Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institutes 2009 Economic Outlook Conference.
Wilson outlined some of the recommendations and programs in place to meet the goals outlined by the bill. She said she believes that the recommendations, when implemented, will provide a large economic boost for Maryland.
View the video to hear a portion of Secretary Wilson’s address discussing greenhouse gas reduction.
View a PDF of the Maryland Chamber’s statement on on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 here.
BP America D.C. Office Space Earns LEED Platinum Certification
BP America’s Northwest D.C. interior office space has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification at the platinum level.
According to an article by the Washington Business Journal, the commercial interior project is one of 13 nationwide to earn platinum certification, and includes a lighting control system and materials made from recyclable materials among its green features.
Read the full Washington Business Journal article here.
KCI Technologies Moves Headquarters to Green Building
KCI Technologies has recently moved its headquarters to a new green building in Sparks, MD.
The facility includes several green features including high-performance climate control, plumbing and electrical systems, a white solar reflective roof, and workspace features made from materials containing recycled content. The company is pursuing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the building.
Watch the video to see KCI Technologies Chairman and CEO Terry Neimeyer give a tour of the new headquarters.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman discussed green initiatives and sustainability in the County at Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute’s 2009 Economic Outlook Conference held last week.
Ulman spoke about several of the County’s environmental accomplishments, including the greening of its service and public transportation vehicle fleet, the expansion of its recycling program, and the use of alternative energies in public buildings.
Watch the video to hear more about Howard County’s green initiatives and accomplishments.
Constellation Energy Achieves Environmental Milestones in Maryland
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has become the largest local government direct purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. through a 30-megawatt wind farm secured by Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group.
Other recent environmental milestones the company has achieved include the construction of two solar power systems in Maryland. The solar power project at McCormick Inc. is the largest solar installation constructed by Constellation Energy in the state. Also, through the completion of a 300kilowatt photovoltaic system in Millersville, Constellation has assisted making the Maryland Environmental Service the first state agency to use solar energy, according to a press release.
For more information about these and other renewable power projects being constructed in the state visit http://www.ceprojects.com.
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce Green Business Blog is now on Twitter. Follow MDGreenBusiness to get updates about environmental legislation we’re watching in the Maryland General Assembly, environmental news from Chamber members, and links and ideas on how to turn your business green.
Also, be sure to check out who we’re following on Twitter and the blog roll for even more green news and tips.
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce submitted written testimony yesterday against the Bay Restoration Act of 2009 (HB 176), to the Environmental Matters Committee.
The legislation prohibits the installation of an on-site sewage disposal system unless the system utilizes nitrogen removal technology. While the Maryland Chamber supports the Bay Restoration Fund and believes the legislation is good from the perspective of requiring nitrogen removal, the fiscal impact of the bill is concerning. The portion of the fund collected and designated for septic system upgrades would only allow about 720 systems to be upgraded each year, while thousands new systems and replacement systems are installed annually. The legislation is unclear on how much money will be reimbursed for each system and, if passed, has the potential to bankrupt the fund.
Testimony was also submitted yesterday against HB 128, a bill requiring a permit to install, materially alter or materially extend a coal combustion byproduct disposal facility, and HB 135, legislation prohibiting the Maryland Department of the Environment from issuing a sewage sludge utilization permit to sites that don’t meet all county zoning and land use requirements, and sites that are on land adjacent to municipalities.
For more information about these and other environmental and energy issues, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs Allyson Black at .
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill to be Heard Next Week
The Greenhouse Gas Reductions Act of 2009 (SB 278/HB 315) is a major issue for many Maryland Chamber members, particularly those in the transportation, utilities, manufacturing, retail and land use industries. Due to the broad range of industries that the Maryland Chamber represents, and the varying positions among its members regarding this bill, the Maryland Chamber will not take an official position at this time.
The Chamber will, however, submit a letter to key lawmakers expressing our viewpoint that this year’s bill is a huge improvement over similar legislation introduced in the past few years. The letter will also express some of the concerns expressed by members who would be impacted by the bill.
The legislation would require the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2006 levels by 2020, with the 25 percent reduction goal up for revision in 2016. It would require the State to develop and adopt a specified plan, adopt specified regulations, and implement specified programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill exempts manufacturers from contributing to the required 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The Maryland Chamber continues to view greenhouse gas regulation as an issue best accomplished at the federal level, but acknowledges the bill is a delicate issue for many members and encourages individuals to contact their legislators with their position. We will post a copy of the final letter at http://www.chamberactionnetwork.com later this week.
The hearing for bill will be held February 10, at 1 p.m. For more information about this legislation or the letter, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs Allyson Black at .
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce submitted written testimony to the Education, Health & Environmental Affairs committee Tuesday in opposition to three bills concerning permit applications and permitting processes.
Senate Bill 4 would prohibit the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) from issuing or renewing various environmental permits until the permit applicant conducts an environmental justice review to determine if an environmentally stressed community within a two-mile radius is disproportionately negatively affected by the proposed action. The legislation would also require an environmental justice review before construction or expansion of an LNG facility. The Maryland Chamber believes the two-mile radius is too expansive, that an environmental justice review requirement for all initial permits and permit renewals could put sites currently in operation in jeopardy when permits are to be renewed and would increase permit issuance time tables as well as permitting costs. Senator David Harrington removed the LNG facility component from the bill; however, the Maryland Chamber still opposes the legislation.
Senate Bill 47 authorizes the Department of the Environment to require a permit applicant to send permit application notification by mail to residential property owners within a two-mile radius of the activity/location for the permit, with the costs borne by the applicant. The Maryland Chamber believes a two-mile radius is too expansive, and in large urban areas thousands of notifications could be required, adding significant financial burden to the applicant. Also, permit issuance delay could occur if someone within the two-mile radius claims to not have been notified.
Senator Harrington reduced the two-mile radius requirements in both SB 4 and SB 47 to a one-mile radius requirement through amendments, but the Maryland Chamber still opposes the legislation. In an urban area, one mile is still too expansive.
Senate Bill 120 establishes an Environmental Leadership Group within the MDE to consider and act on environmental matters in the state, including activities that require permit approval from local, state and federal agencies. It also requires applicants for air quality permits to prepare and submit to MDE an environment impact statement (EIS). The Maryland Chamber believes the bill will allow contested challenges for every MDE issued permit and would significantly prolong the permitting process, increase costs for both MDE and applicants, and create unnecessary burdens without benefit to the public. The legislation also does not outline qualifications or limitations on the authority of the proposed Environmental Leadership Group.
For more information about these and other environmental bills, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs Allyson Black at .
The Maryland Chamber's Green Business Blog will discuss environmentally friendly business practices and tips on how to “go green." Submit your ideas to Krysten Appelbaum at kappelbaum@mdchamber.org
When it comes to lowering energy costs there are a few solutions that provide immediate savings and take little time, such as turning off lights, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, and investing in a programmable thermostat. However, to maximize your energy and savings potential, an energy audit on your business or home may be a worthwhile venture.
