Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Maryland is blessed with abundant natural resources -- resources that we must carefully steward and protect from threats of pollution and climate change. Our environment impacts both our personal and economic well-being. We must protect our vulnerable communities and ensure that Maryland businesses are transparent and socially responsible. We have a responsibility to be good custodians of our resources so they will continue to be a benefit for generations to come.

Boost Renewable Energy and Green Jobs: Maryland can continue to set an example for the rest of the nation by continuing to support clean, renewable forms energy that do not put our community's health at risk. Will supports provisions -- like those in Maryland's Offshore Wind Energy Bill -- that aim to maximize the thousands of jobs and business opportunities that flow from clean energy projects, especially beneficial to underrepresented entrepreneurs and those struggling to find work.
Address Climate Disruption: Will supports the recommendations of Maryland's Climate Action Plan and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act goals to reduce emissions by 25% by 2020, the EmPower Maryland energy efficiency goals that aim reduce our energy consumption by 15% per capita by 2015 and increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard so that 25% of our electricity comes from renewable resources by 2020.
Restore the Bay: The Chesapeake Bay is a Maryland treasure -- a treasure we must bring back to health by reducing polluted runoff and toxic contaminants, rebuilding our fisheries and watershed habitats and tackling climate change which can contribute to dead zones and extreme weather. Keeping Maryland's Watershed Implementation Plan on track to meet pollution reduction goals is critical.
Hold the Line on Fracking: Flaming tap water, polluted air, even an increased potential of earthquakes -- these are some of the results of fracking that we have seen across the country. Maryland wisely has set up an advisory commission to study the risks of fracking on public health and the environment. Any investigation must be rigorous and deliberate to determine the real effects on our lives and our livelihood so that our decisions will be based on the best science available.
Support Public Transportation and Smart Growth: High-quality alternatives to cars reduce pollution and improve access to job opportunities especially for low-income citizens, so wise use of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act (gas tax) is critical. Will supports investments in Bus Rapid Transit and the Purple Line to move more people with greater efficiency while reducing our carbon footprint. As more transit options are made available, we should build and revitalize neighborhoods based on mixed-use, transit oriented development.
Make Pollution Data Available and Accessible: Citizens have a right to know what chemicals are being put into the air, soil and waterways and deserve to have this information easily accessible. Pollution makes people sick -- hampering kids' ability to learn and adults' ability to earn a living. The resulting illnesses have an economic cost, burdening both family finances and our health care delivery system. With transparency and a public database we can track pollution levels and assess the best ways to minimize them. Will also supports efforts to update the Water Quality Improvement Act to once again allow universities, research institutions and the general public access to farm pollution records.
Require Environmental Justice Review for Heavily Impacted Communities: Many of our minority and low-income communities have a disproportionate share of environmentally hazardous facilities located in their neighborhoods. Any future permitting requests for those communities should be subject to an Environmental Justice Review to assess the health impacts of the existing facilities as well as any potential risks the new operation may present.

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