ANNAPOLIS—Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. announced today that he will sign the Maryland Clean Energy Bill. HB 1308/SB 869 will significantly increase renewable energy production and consumption in Maryland. Currently, Maryland gets less than one percent of its electricity from clean, renewable energy resources, like wind and solar. This new law requires Maryland utilities to ramp-up the amount of renewable energy to 7.5% by 2014.

"Investments in renewable energy increase the job and tax base at the same time helping reduce air and water pollution," said Gigi Kellett, MaryPIRG energy advocate. "We applaud the governor for supporting such an important economic and environmental initiative."

"We also recognize the efforts of legislative leaders who made this a priority during the session," she continued. "Their leadership and support was instrumental in creating support for clean energy in the General Assembly."

House Speaker Michael Busch and Chairmen Derek Davis and Thomas Middleton worked throughout the session to promote this bill. Also lending their voices as early advocates of clean energy were Del. James Hubbard, House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, and Senators Lisa Gladden and Dolores Kelley.

Maryland is the fifteenth state to adopt a renewable energy standard. The interest in renewable energy technologies in the Mid-Atlantic region is on the rise. Wind is the fastest growing energy sector in the world, and solar power is a close second. As both of these industries expand, production costs continue to decrease; for example, many wind projects are now cost-competitive to natural gas power plants.

"This legislation guarantees a local demand for renewable energy and positions Maryland and the region to benefit from the growing marketplace," stated Kellett. "Maryland is home to several renewable energy companies. This bill provides incentives for more companies to join them."

MaryPIRG worked with a number of different organizations in advocating for this legislation. Public health groups including Physicians for Social Responsibility supported this bill, as well as environmental groups such as Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Clean Energy Partnership, Clean Water Action, and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

Governor Ehrlich also will sign 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. HB 1269, introduced by Del. Mary Roe Walkup, expands eligible resources to include wind power and allows business customers to qualify for the program.

"Renewable energy standards and net energy metering programs promote public and private investments in developing clean energy technologies," concluded Kellett. "These technologies diversify our fuel mix, stabilize electricity costs, and emit less pollution than traditional fuel sources. We congratulate Maryland for moving forward with our energy policy."

MaryPIRG is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization with members throughout the state and a student chapter at the University of Maryland College Park. For thirty years, MaryPIRG has fought for environmental protection, consumer rights, and good government. MaryPIRG's New Energy Future campaign has been a top priority for the past two years.