This bill would provide the opportunity for further scrutiny of permits for projects that have a high climate impact and are proposed to be built in areas that already have a high burden of pollution and adverse health outcomes. It will enable key state agencies, like the Maryland Department of Environment, to fully assess the health and environmental impacts of such projects on marginalized communities and prioritize these communities for additional public participation and protections.

This bill would provide the opportunity for further scrutiny of permits for projects that have a high climate impact and are proposed to be built in areas that already have a high burden of pollution and adverse health outcomes. It will enable key state agencies, like the Maryland Department of Environment, to fully assess the health and environmental impacts of such projects on marginalized communities and prioritize these communities for additional public participation and protections.

Land conservation is a simple defense to climate change, sea-level rise, and unprecedented species loss. It offers carbon sequestration, reduced flooding, and the preservation of essential habitat.

The Maryland the Beautiful Act aligns with both President Biden’s goal and the UN-led international Kumming-Montreal Agreement to conserve 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. Also known as the 30×30 Act, this bill would mandate a conservation goal of 30% of Maryland lands by 2030.

Open, accessible spaces for passive recreation, nature connections, and community gatherings are essential to the viability of our urban neighborhoods. Nonetheless, many Maryland communities were developed without any available greenspaces. Add to that, acquisition and conservation of lands in areas with greater population density is often much more expensive, due to competing values for land and you have a scenario in which urban green spaces are hard to find.

The “Greenspace Equity Program” would provide annual state funding to land trusts, local governments and other community partners working in Maryland’s underserved and overburdened communities where the public need for greenspace is often the greatest. This program seeks to support the creation of new greenspaces in urban settings as well as the care and maintenance of them.

EmPOWER is an energy efficiency program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and Maryland’s energy utilities, providing financial incentives to perform energy audits and weatherization services for consumers.

Limited income households are eligible to receive energy efficiency upgrades at no charge. Energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce electricity demand, and help achieve our climate goals while lowering bills for consumers.