Maryland needs to act on climate

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Supporters spoke up in this action

Delivery to Maryland Gov. Moore

Action ended on May 16, 2023

What Happens Next

Thank you to all who took action! Gov. Moore signed the three climate bills into law.

What Was At Stake

Now is the time for Maryland to make up for lost time and act on a suite of laws that will tackle the climate crisis and shelter Marylanders from volatile fossil fuel prices. 

The legislature took the climate crisis seriously this session and passed three key bills. Gov. Moore signed two of the bills already, but he needs to finish the job and sign the third. 

Here are the three bills, and how they’ll help. 

Community Solar (HB908) 

Cements the community solar pilot program as a permanent opportunity for Marylanders, thus giving low-to-moderate income residents access to solar. It also makes significant improvements that will make the program accessible to more people. 

Advanced Clean Truck Rule (SB224) — SIGNED

Establishes zero-emission medium and heavy-duty truck sales requirements, cutting air pollution from some of the dirtiest vehicles on the road. 

POWER Act (HB793/SB781) — SIGNED

Establishes a goal of 8.5 GWs of offshore wind — paving the way for the federal government to lease Maryland’s waters for offshore wind. 

These three bills will save Marylanders money on energy bills, clean up our air, and establish the state as a leader in the fight against the climate crisis. Tell Gov. Moore to sign the final bill today. 

Furthermore, the Governor should designate an official to ensure Maryland fully seizes the opportunities created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Act included $369 billion in climate investments, many of which come in the form of grants that states need to apply for. Without someone in charge of the state’s efforts, Maryland will lose out on a once-in-a-generation chance to transition the state’s economy to renewable energy. 

This is a critical decade in our fight to stop the climate crisis, and Gov. Moore must meet the moment by signing all three bills into law and harnessing the investment of the Inflation Reduction Act. Tell him to act now. 

Your Actions Matter

Your messages make a difference, even if we have leaders who don't want to listen. Here's why.

You level the playing field.

Elected officials pay attention when they see that we are paying attention. Read more.

They may be hearing from industry lobbyists left and right, but hearing the stories of their constituents — that’s your power.

Our legislators serve at the pleasure of the people who gave them their job — you.

Make sure your elected officials know whose community and whose values they represent. When you contact your elected official, you’re putting a face and a name on an issue.

Whether or not you voted for them, they work for you, for the duration of their term.

Make sure your elected officials know whose community and whose values they represent. (Find your local, state, and federal elected officials.)

Your action is with us in court.

If a federal agency finalizes a harmful action, the record of public comments provides a basis for bringing them into court. Read more.

Throughout each of the public comment periods we alert you to, Earthjustice’s attorneys are researching and writing in-depth, technical comments to submit — detailing how the regulation could and should be stronger to protect the environment, our communities, and our planet.

We need you to join us — your specific experiences, knowledge, and voice are crucial to add to the Administrative Record through the comment periods.

Lawsuits we file that challenge weak or harmful federal regulations rely on what was submitted during the comment period. The court can only look at documents that are in the Administrative Record — including the public comments — to decide if the agency did something improper.

Your actions aid our litigation. Taking action and submitting comments during a comment period is substantively important.

It’s the law.

Federal agencies must pause what they’re doing and ask for — and consider — your comment. Read more.

Many of us may have never heard of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), but laws like these require our government to ask the public to weigh in before agencies adopt or change regulations.

Regulations essentially describe how federal agencies will carry out laws — including decisions that could undermine science, or weaken safeguards on public health.

Public comments are collected at various points throughout the federal government’s rulemaking process, including when a regulation is proposed and finalized. (Learn about the rulemaking process.) These comments become part of the official, legal public record — the “Administrative Record.”

When the public responds with a huge outpouring of support for environmental protections, these individual messages collectively undercut politicians' attempts to claim otherwise.

What this means is each of us can take a role in shaping the rules our government creates — and ensuring those rules are fair and effective.