2025 Governor’s Report Card and 2025 Environmental Legislative Scorecard
Environmental Legislative Scorecard
The 2025 Environmental Legislative Scorecard assesses how Maryland’s General Assembly addressed environmental legislation during a challenging session dominated by a $3 billion budget deficit and attempts to fast-track fossil fuel generation facilities. The scorecard reveals that while environmental advocates successfully defended against harmful rollbacks—such as preventing the fast-tracking of gas plants without environmental review—the General Assembly failed to advance any priority environmental justice, clean energy, or water protection bills, representing a clear leadership gap. The session was marked by significant funding challenges, with $315 million pulled from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund and $25 million annually cut from Program Open Space, highlighting the ongoing challenge of securing sustainable funding for Maryland’s climate commitments.
Governor’s Report Card
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters’ Governor’s Report Card evaluates Governor Wes Moore’s environmental performance during his first two and a half years in office (2023-2025). While the Governor has taken meaningful steps including advancing offshore wind, creating a Climate Subcabinet, making high-profile environmental justice appointments, and protecting Chesapeake Bay funding, the assessment reveals mixed results. The report highlights missed opportunities such as supporting diesel backup generators at data centers, allowing expedited permitting of gas plants, vetoing key climate legislation, and insufficient funding to meet the state’s climate goals. Overall, the report concludes that while Governor Moore has made moderate progress and laid promising groundwork, the pace and magnitude of actions are insufficient to meet Maryland’s urgent climate and environmental justice challenges.
