Governor Hogan announces Chesapeake Bay climate reform policy

Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today joined Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and regional leaders for the annual meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, where he announced four principles for key legislation needed regarding the Chesapeake Bay, climate change, and clean and renewable energy.

“While we have worked hard to make Maryland a national leader on climate change and environmental stewardship, we are committed to building on that legacy, which is why I am submitting a memorandum today to Maryland legislative leaders which lays out four key principles to guide further action on environmental reforms,” said Governor Hogan. “It calls for stronger public-private funding mechanisms to increase investment in Bay restoration, a forward-thinking clean energy package, expanding land conservation and preservation, and an equitable transition to a cleaner and greener economy.”

The four principles laid out in the governor’s memorandum for House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson are:

Chesapeake Bay: Financing For Tomorrow. “Now is the time to make a real down payment on our future environmental and restoration priorities by supporting a robust public-private funding mechanism. Let’s leverage the power of private capital for the public good—it will be good for the Bay and good for the bottom line.”


A Climate for Clean and Renewable Energy. “We must continue working closely with the federal government and regional partners to advance the clean energy economy. This partnership includes the SMART-POWER agreement I signed with Virginia and North Carolina. Together we can position Maryland as a regional power player for the entire Atlantic Coast.”

Outdoor Recreation: Access for All. “I urge the General Assembly to work with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Cabinet to remove funding restrictions within state law so we can better manage and use existing revenue sources to accomplish our collective goals.”

Equitable and Just Transition. “Managing state lands, working with local zoning officials, and incentivizing use of brownfields, waste sites, and other underutilized locations continues to offer great potential if we strike the right balance of responsible deregulation and reasonable incentives.”

Read the full memorandum here.

Following the meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, Governor Hogan joined Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Delegate David Bulova to sign a directive committing the Chesapeake Bay Program to address the increasing threats of climate change by utilizing world-class monitoring technology.

Since 1984, the Chesapeake Executive Council has been responsible for guiding a policy agenda and setting conservation and restoration goals for the regional watershed partnership between Chesapeake Bay watershed states.

 

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