Maryland CEJA to Become Law Without Governor Signature

Maryland’s Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), recently passed by the state’s General Assembly, is set to become law, but without the signature of governor Larry Hogan.

In a letter to President of the Maryland Senate Thomas V. Miller Jr., Hogan states that Senate Bill 516 is not clean and affordable enough and will not produce the anticipated jobs, but he grants it the approval to become law.

Besides the potential loss of jobs to out-of-state companies, the governor believes the legislation threatens to place Maryland’s farms, forests, waterways and wetlands in jeopardy,

“Despite its name, this bill is not clean enough, nor smart enough, nor does it create the intended jobs within Maryland,” Hogan said. “However, I am allowing Senate Bill 516 to become law without my signature in the hopes of opening the door for a productive conversation to truly advance clean and renewable energy in our state.”

Maryland’s governor emphasized the plans to advance a Clean and Renewable Energy Standard (CARES), which has the aim of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2040 and zero carbon emissions.

CARES is expected to increase the use of zero and low carbon renewable energy sources, recognize the clean aspects of nuclear energy, support hydropower, advance technology for carbon capture and storage, as well as use the role of energy-efficient heat and power.

According to Hogan, the development of CARES is underway in order to get it ready for submission to the General Assembly on the first day of the 2020 Assembly Session.

To remind, CEJA will incentivize the development of 1.2GW of additional offshore wind in Maryland by 2030 as part of its aim to accelerate the state’s  Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50%.

New offshore wind capacity is required beginning with at least 400MW in 2026, increasing to at least 800MW in 2028 and 1,200MW in 2030.