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AGENDA

Opening Remarks – Susan Olsen, Vice Chair, Sierra Club Lower Eastern Shore Group

Moderator Welcome – Elle Bassett, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper, ShoreRivers

Legislator Overview of 2022 Environmental Legislation –

Delegate Wanika Fisher – Judiciary Committee

Environmental Human Rights Amendment

Delegate Lorig Charkoudian – Economic Matters Committee

Public Utilities - Low Income Housing - Energy Performance Targets, Grid Reliability and Inclusive Distribution(GRID) Act, Farm to Food Security Act, School-Based Waste Diversion Grant Program, Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) Reform

Senator Paul Pinsky– Chair, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee

Climate Solutions Now Act, Water Pollution Control Permit Enforcement

Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes – Speaker Pro Tem, Health and Government Operations Committee

Buy Clean Maryland 2022

Delegate Eric Luedtke – Majority Leader, Ways and Means Committee

Conservation Parity Act

Delegate Vaughn Stewart – Environment and Transportation Committee

Private Well Safety Act, Reclaim Renewable Energy Act

Delegate Sheila Ruth – Environment and Transportation Committee

Attorney General – Climate Change Actions - Authorization, Regulation of Pesticides – Transfer to Department of Environment, Transportation Equity Act, Gas Station Environmental Health and Community Protection Act

Senator Sarah Elfreth – Budget and Tax Committee

Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Exemption from Energy and Property Taxes, Omnibus Oyster Shell Legislation

Delegate Shaneka Henson – Appropriations Committee

Urban/Minority Farms

Question and Answer

Wrap Up and Closing Remarks – Elle Bassett, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper, ShoreRivers

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DELEGATE WANIKA FISHER

District 47B, Prince George’s County

Judiciary Committee

Environmental Human Rights Amendment

In 1973, the General Assembly of the state of Maryland declared that clean water, clean air, healthy soil and a stable climate are fundamental and inalienable human rights. Yet to this day, this right is not enforceable.

The Environmental Human Rights Amendment would place this right in the Declaration of Rights of our state Constitution and give all Marylanders the most durable legal protection for environmental protection.

With such an amendment, local groups could contest the placement of pipelines, incinerators, power plants, and other major sources of air, water, land and climate pollution.

With this Amendment, residents have a right to legally fight such efforts and offenses.

Without this right, residents only have a moral voice.

Nina Cardin, Maryland Environmental Human Rights www.mdehr.org

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DELEGATE LORIG CHARKOUDIAN�District 20, Montgomery County�Economic Matters Committee

Public Utilities – Low-Income Housing - Energy Performance Targets

Maryland’s low-income residents pay 550% more as a portion of income for energy than most Marylanders.
Maryland lags behind other states in helping low-income residents achieve energy savings and lower energy costs.
Too many low-income Marylanders face high energy bills and unhealthy living conditions because of broken HVAC systems, drafty windows, and unreliable electrical systems.
This bill helps low-income residents save energy and lower their energy costs and sets a standard of 1% annual energy saving for low-income households.
It coordinates and consolidates a range of Federal and state funding sources, enables state-funded home energy audits in qualified low-income homes, and increases EMPOWER and state funding for programs targeting low-income households to make energy efficiency improvements such as new insulation, better windows, EnergyStar® appliances, LED light bulbs and more.

Ruth Ann Norton, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative ranorton@ghhi.org

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DELEGATE LORIG CHARKOUDIAN�District 20, Montgomery County�Economic Matters Committee

Grid Reliability and Inclusive Distribution (GRID) Act –

Modernizing Maryland’s energy grid is a high priority and a key tool in fighting climate change.

This bill requires the planning and regulations for the distribution grid to support Maryland’s goals of -

decarbonization
greenhouse gas reduction
renewable energy
equity
family-sustaining employment
energy resiliency and reliability
cost-effectiveness

in an inclusive and transparent manner.

Victoria Venable, Chesapeake Climate Action Network victoria@chesapeakeclimate.org

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DELEGATE LORIG CHARKOUDIAN�District 20, Montgomery County�Economic Matters Committee

Farm to Food Security Act–

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity for a strong and resilient food system.
A shift to a more sustainable, localized food system can help strengthen supply chains, build up local farms, and bring equity to consumption and access. This bill invests in three programs to enhance resiliency and reduce food insecurity:
Increasing Maryland market money, which doubles the value of federal nutrition benefits spent at farmers markets
Piloting a farm to school grant program to increase school purchases of locally grown and produced food, and
Creating the Maryland Food and Agricultural Resilience Mechanism (MD FARM) to support Maryland-based procurement, harvesting, contracting, distribution, or processing for hunger relief efforts.

Julia Lemp/Adam LaRose, Capital Area Food Bank jlemp@capitalareafoodbank.org; alarose@capitalareafoodbank.org

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DELEGATE LORIG CHARKOUDIAN�District 20, Montgomery County�Economic Matters Committee

School-Based Food Waste Diversion Grant Program –

In 2015, the U.S. set a national goal to reduce food waste by 50% by the year 2030. Maryland is not on track to meet this goal with only 15% of food waste being diverted from landfills and incinerators.
Food waste in landfills creates highly potent greenhouse gases, such as methane. When converted to compost, it can sequester carbon in soils.
This bill creates a competitive grant program to support school-based initiatives to prevent, reduce, and compost pre- and post-consumer food waste.
Initiatives can include training and education, school infrastructure improvements, new programs to serve food that has already been prepared, contracts with commercial composters, and other innovative techniques for managing school-based food waste.

Joe Richardson, Lunch out of Landfills joesr@bar-t.com

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DELEGATE LORIG CHARKOUDIAN�District 20, Montgomery County�Economic Matters Committee

Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) Reform –

This bill requires that the Dept of Human Services make EUSP Utility Assistance available to anyone who needs it, regardless of immigration status.

Cathryn Paul, CASA cpaul@wearecasa.org

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SENATOR PAUL PINSKY�District 22, Prince George’s County�Chair, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee�

Climate Solutions Now Act

Sets Maryland on a path to net zero carbon emissions by 2045 with an interim goal of 60% reduction by 2030
It requires the creation of new Buildings Electric Performance Codes
Requires that construction of new buildings of greater than 25,000 sq ft be all-electric and requires transition of existing buildings to all electric
Building more efficient schools that rely on clean energy
Requires electrification of the state fleet by 2030
Requires methane emissions data to be monitored on a 20 year basis
Increased emphasis on environmental justice in disproportionately affected communities
Create systematic plans for workers displaced by the shift to clean, renewable energy

Diana Younts, co-chair, MLC Climate Justice Wing djyounts@gmail.com

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SENATOR PAUL PINSKY�District 22, Prince George’s County�Chair, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee�

Water Pollution Control Permit Enforcement –

MDE must conduct monthly inspections of facilities in “significant noncompliance.”
Facilities in significant noncompliance after two inspections must pay a penalty.
Requires monthly inspections of facilities with expired “zombie” permits which have been ‘administratively extended’ by MDE.
MDE must write new permits for all zombie permits within three years. MDE may not administratively extend new permits after three year period.

Betsy Nicholas, Waterkeepers Chesapeake and Robin Clark, Chesapeake Bay Foundation bnicholas@waterkeepers chesapeake.org, rclark@cbf.org

Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers mpluta@ShoreRivers.org

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DELEGATE SHEREE SAMPLE-HUGHES�District 37A, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties�Speaker Pro Tem, Health and Government Operations Committee�

Buy Clean Maryland 2022–

“Buy Clean” is a procurement policy that aims to fill a gap in climate policy by incorporating low-carbon construction purchasing requirements that address the greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials

the legislation requires state agencies to establish a procurement preference for certain construction materials that meet defined standards related to a specific material’s “global warming potential”

Building sector emissions are responsible for nearly 40% of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions, with at least 11% resulting from the production of building materials

Global warming potential is measured by Environmental Product Declarations, which are third-party verified documents that adhere to product category rules that present transparent information about the environmental impacts of the product

Similar legislation has been passed in California, Colorado, New Jersey and New York

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DELEGATE ERIC LUEDTKE�District 14, Montgomery County�Majority Leader, Ways and Means Committee�

Conservation Parity Act –

This bill responds to a national and international movement to conserve 30% of earth’s lands and waters by 2030 to preserve nature and mitigate impacts on nature from global climate change
The bill sets a goal for Maryland to conserve 30% of its lands by 2030 and 40% by 2040
It would also enhances and accelerates conservation efforts through a series of programs:

New program: Greenspace Equity Program 🡪 provides funding for private land trusts to conserve open space in underserved communities across Maryland for urban and pocket parks, community gardens and urban farms, forests and trails, etc.
New program: Land Trust and Local Government Revolving Loan Fund 🡪 accelerate conservation efforts by creating a bridge loan opportunity for private land trusts
Existing program: Mel Noland Woodland Incentives Fund 🡪 creates mandated appropriation of $1 million annually to support stewardship of private forestland in Maryland (majority of forestland in MD is privately owned).

Maryland has conserved around 27% of its lands and critical habitats.
This bill would establish MARYLAND AS A CONSERVATION LEADER AMONG OTHER STATES

Reed Perry, Chesapeake Conservancy rperry@chesapeakeconservancy.org

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DELEGATE VAUGHN STEWART�District 19, Montgomery County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Private Well Safety Act –

The Maryland Department of the Environment will establish and implement a Private Well Safety Fund that counties may apply to for funding to assist residents with:

The costs associated with water quality test kits & analysis
The costs associated with well remediation (replace, reconstruct or treat) if water quality demonstrates contaminants above safe drinking water act levels

The Maryland Department of the Environment will utilize the existing portal, Open Data Maryland, in order for the state to receive certificates of potability and well water quality tests from state-certified laboratories.

Property transfer - water quality testing. Any home with a private well cannot be sold unless a recent water quality test (less than 6 months old) has been disclosed to all parties.

Online drinking water quality database. Requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to upload certain private well water quality tests (and related documents) from state-approved laboratories on an ongoing basis.

Katlyn Schmidt, Progressive Reform kschmidt@progressivereform.org

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DELEGATE VAUGHN STEWART�District 19, Montgomery County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Reclaim Renewable Energy Act –
Maryland’s signature renewable energy program, the renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) sets requirements for what percentage of the energy utilities sell must be renewable, and defines which energy sources can be used to meet those requirements.

Currently, many forms of dirty energy are subsidized by the RPS, such as trash incineration and factory farm biogas.

These polluting facilities are often sited in communities that are already overburdened.

The reclaim renewable energy act will remove all combustion based energy sources from the RPS so that the program can function as intended to promote the use of real clean renewables like wind, solar, and geothermal.

Lily Hawkins lhawkins@fwwatch.org

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DELEGATE SHEILA RUTH�District 44B, Baltimore County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Attorney General - Climate Change Actions - Authorization–

This bill ensures that the Attorney General has the resources to investigate and file any appropriate action against major fossil fuel companies whose tortious or unlawful conduct may have contributed to climate change — at no additional cost to the state.

Iyla Shornstein, State and Local Campaigns Manager at the Center for Climate Integrity, iyla@climateintegrity.org

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DELEGATE SHEILA RUTH�District 44B, Baltimore County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Regulation of Pesticides – Transfer to Department of the Environment

Supported by the Md Pesticide Education Network’s (MPEN) Smart on Pesticides Coalition �of 109 organizations and businesses. - Ruth Berlin, MPEN Executive Director

410.849.3909, ext.1 (c) 410.693.7319 berlin@mdpestnet.org

Pesticides are toxic chemicals that have adverse impacts on people, pollinators, our waterways and the environment.
Regulation of more than 14,000 pesticide products is solely the charge of the Md. Dept of Agriculture (MDA), an agency that lacks environmental and health scientific expertise. Md. Dept. of Agriculture’s prime directive is the protection/promotion of Maryland’s farmers.
Pesticides are not only found in farming.�They are used in schools, daycare centers, hospitals, nursing homes, office buildings, parks, golf courses, athletic fields, other public locations, and in thousands of consumer products.

Pesticides go beyond the scope of Dept. of Agriculture expertise.
The bill shifts authority to regulate pesticides from Md. Dept of Agriculture to the Dept of Environment — the agency already charged with oversight of toxic substances — including lead in homes and radiation in hospitals. The bill provides for input from MDA and Md. Dept. of Health.
Other states, including NY, NJ, CT, RI, VT, ME, SC and CA, rely on their state’s public health and environmental experts to further restrict or ban EPA-registered pesticides, based on their expertise, concerns, and needs assessment for their state’s residents, waterways, pollinators, and environment.

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DELEGATE SHEILA RUTH�District 44B, Baltimore County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Transportation equity act –

Promotes an approach to equity that recommends anticipation and prevention as the better strategies when compared to recovery and correction which have been the principal strategies in the past.

Why is it needed?

Maryland has a long history of racist transportation policies, from highways built through black communities to the cancellation of the red line.
Equitable transportation plays a key role in dismantling systemic racism:

Increasing access to good jobs, schools, education, and food;
Providing incentives for economic development in distressed communities; and
Reducing smog, air pollution, and heat islands, which disproportionately impact black communities

Equity is currently treated as an afterthought
Only by being intentional about transportation equity can we begin to dismantle centuries of systemic racism.

Samuel Jordan, Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition samuel.jordan@moretransitequity.com

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DELEGATE SHEILA RUTH�District 44B, Baltimore County�Environment and Transportation Committee

Gas Station Environment, Health, and Community Protection –

Reduces the cumulative impact of clusters of gas stations by requiring new stations to be at least 1000 feet from any existing stations
Requires new gas stations to be at least 1000 feet from residential property and sensitive land uses like schools and day care centers
Facilitates the transition to zero emission vehicles by requiring new stations to install EV charging stations for every gas pump

sheila.ruth@house.state.md.us

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SENATOR ELFRETH�District 30, Anne Arundel County�Budget and Taxation Committee

Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Exemption from Energy and Property Taxes –

Exempts projects from county or municipal personal property tax for community solar projects installed on rooftops, parking lots, roadways, or brownfields which benefit low-to-moderate income households.
Encourages solar generation in communities that are burdened by environmental pollutants and helps provide assistance to low-to-moderate households
This bill will overcome the greater costs associated with developing projects, serve low-income customers, and those that are located on land that has already been developed (rooftops, parking lots, landfills, etc.),

Kristen Harbeson, Maryland League of Conservation Voters kharbeson@mdlcv.org

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SENATOR ELFRETH�District 30, Anne Arundel County�Budget and Taxation Committee

Omnibus Oyster Shell Legislation –

Goal to reach 5 billion spat on shell by 2025

Provide key capital support to hatcheries across the state

Reconfigure the restaurant shell tax credit to a grant program

Fund joint substrate research through UMCES, SERC, and VIMS.

Fund a targeted Bay Bottom Survey for first time in decades

Create incentives for new shucking houses

Robin Clark, Chesapeake Bay Foundation rclark@cbf.org

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DELEGATE SHANEKA HENSON�District 30, Anne Arundel County�Appropriations Committee

Urban Minority Farms –

Putting Urban Farms on Equal Footing for State Agriculture Funding

Creating access to state funding and services for practices that strengthen communities, provide healthy produce, and create economic opportunities in alignment with the natural environment.

Updating current funding to address a growing trend towards small farms and urban agriculture

Current support for traditional agriculture: the Maryland water-quality agricultural cost share program and Maryland’s cover crop program; the University of Maryland Agriculture Extension; and other state programs

Growing trend towards small and urban farming: in developed areas in counties throughout Maryland; drive for local produce intensified during COVID; farm service providers, census shows increase in participation and interest

Specific tailored support needed for urban farms

Capital: water irrigation; high tunnel systems; security

Training needs: business skills; local laws and regulations; organics and food safety certifications

Aggregation & distribution: identifying markets; preparing products for market; product distribution

Robin Clark, Chesapeake Bay Foundation rclark@cbf.org

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