The Maryland General Assembly recently voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto to restore the Clean Energy Jobs Act, action lauded by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
“Making the Clean Energy Jobs Act law is the right decision for Maryland,” said AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan. “Renewable energy legislation is pro-growth, pro-business, and means access to more jobs in Maryland. From the Free State’s population-hubs to majestic shores, this ensures more low-cost, homegrown American wind power reaches homeowners and businesses.”
In April 2016, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Clean Energy Jobs Act, legislation to increase the state’s renewable energy standard by 5 percent so that a quarter of its energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. In May 2016, Gov. Hogan vetoed the bill. The Maryland House of Delegates voted to override that veto and later the Senate joined the lower chamber in restoring this important legislation.
Wind power employs just more than 100,000 Americans according to the Department of Energy. Wind power also relies on a robust American supply chain of 500 factories across 43 states.
Wind energy has already provided $380 million of capital investment in Maryland, and wind-turbine lease payments have generated up to $1 million a year in Maryland.
States representing roughly a quarter of the U.S. population (California, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia) have chosen to raise their renewable energy goals over the past year while adding jobs and investment. California, Oregon, New York, and Hawaii have standards aiming for 50 percent renewable energy and beyond.
Source: AWEA
For more information, go to www.awea.gov
