Clean Energy

Hannah Cho's recent article ("O'Malley praises Exelon-CEG deal," Dec. 16) reported on a far superior merger agreement between Exelon Corp. and Constellation Energy Group than previous arrangements. Between 1999 and 2009, electricity prices across Maryland doubled, hurting businesses and families across the state. And although prices have fallen in the last two years, it is clear that we not only need the $100 credit that the Exelon-CEG merger will provide, but also a permanent rate relief solution.

Tim Wheeler 's most recent article about the fight over black liquor in Maryland's renewable energy standard ("'Black liquor' bill resurrected," March 25) highlights the overwhelming need to reform our state energy policy. Over the last seven years, Maryland ratepayers have spent millions of dollars - money that was supposed to encourage new clean energy like wind and solar - on polluting energy from old out-of-state paper mills. The mills receive this subsidy by burning "black liquor," a carbon-rich byproduct of the paper pulping process and other mill residues.

The article, "China takes lead on clean energy" (March 25) discussed the United States' lack of investment in clean energy. This is definitely a concern as we are known to be one of the most developed countries. Some of the countries that are outspending us include China, Germany, Mexico and Canada. Falling behind these countries is definitely a shock and should be a wake up call to our government. Canada and Germany have much smaller populations than the United States, and one has to wonder why we cannot match what they are spending.

Would you pay a little bit more on your monthly utility bill to help build a wind farm generating as much as 200 megawatts of electricity 12 miles or more off the coast of Maryland? That's really all Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed offshore wind bill comes down to - and yet for the past two years the General Assembly has said no. But this year, the proposal seems to have the wind at its back, having passed the House of Delegates today and facing friendlier prospects in the Senate than in years past - thanks in no small part to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller's willingness to reshuffle membership in the Finance Committee to bypass an entrenched opponent.

The article "Law bars homeowner from installing solar panels on pier" (April 16) underscores the need for Maryland to find ways we can increase clean, renewable energy while also protecting wetlands and critical areas. The Department of the Environment applauds individual efforts to reduce air emissions by using solar power. Maryland's wetlands law, though, prevents development that is detrimental to wetland resources, such as submerged aquatic vegetation, and does not allow building or placing items on piers that are not required to be over water.

China overtook the United States for the first time last year in the race to invest in wind, solar and other sources of so-called "clean energy," according to a comprehensive report that raises questions of American competitiveness in a booming global market. U.S. clean-energy investments approached $19 billion last year, according to a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts, a little more than half the Chinese total of nearly $35 billion. Five years ago, China's investment in clean energy was just $2.5 billion.

We all can agree that Maryland needs clean, new electricity plants to fuel a growing economy and replace dirty coal-fired generators. And we can all agree that the current de-regulated energy market has failed to produce this much-needed new generation. That is why I have proposed the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act — to advance a safe, reliable, clean energy source that will help secure our energy future, create thousands of jobs and protect Maryland ratepayers over the long-term.

President Obama's State of the Union speech to Congress last night focused largely on jobs, taxes and income inequality, but it had plenty of red meat in it for those concerned about energy and the environment. He vowed to continue to push for "clean energy" while touting the economic potential of shale gas and defending environmental regulations.  He defended government incentives for developing solar, wind and high-tech battery industries, but called for an end to longstanding subsidies for the oil and gas industry.  "It's time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable and double down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising," he said.  But he renewed his call for an "all-out, all-of-the-above strategy" to develop every available source of American energy, and said he was directing his administration to open up more than 75 percent of potential offshore oil and gas resources for drilling.

I share Alex Pavlak's interest in advancing a clean energy future, yet his recent op-ed ( "The problem with wind," May 5) ignores basic facts. Maryland has an ambitious, actionable plan to reduce our state's dependence on costly fossil fuels by generating 20 percent of our state's energy from renewable sources by 2022. Because of the smart choices we've made over the last five years, we are on pace to meet that goal. Notwithstanding our significant progress in building solar, land-based wind, geothermal and biomass generation in Maryland, the only way to achieve our renewable goal with in-state generation is to harness our offshore wind resources.

Brian Funk is rehabilitating a 120-year-old Canton townhouse, hoping to make it energy-efficient while keeping it historically accurate. To help achieve that tricky balance, Funk went shopping for helpful hints at the Clean Energy Expo at Goucher College yesterday, an event that focused on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power and corn-burning stoves. Sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the expo exhibited sun-powered appliances and "futuristic vehicles," hybrid cars fueled by gas and electricity.

Legislation to subsidize an offshore wind energy project off Ocean City moved ahead Friday, as the House Economic Matters Committee approved the measure, a priority of Gov. Martin O'Malley and many environmental activists. The committee voted 14-7 to send HB226 to the House floor with two minor amendments and little debate. While expected to sail through the House, a bigger test awaits it in the Senate. The governor's bill would require the state's electricity providers to purchase a certain amount of power from an offshore wind project.

With hope of having better luck this year, Gov. Martin O'Malley went before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday to pitch his plan for boosting offshore wind energy projects off Maryland's coast. Appearing more than 20 mintues late, the governor urged the panel to act on his bill, which he said would help fight climate change, stimulate clean energy and make Maryland the hub of a new renewable industry. "This legislation is important to our energy future, to our jobs future and therefore important to our children's future," he said.

Mike Tidwell is correct that the evidence for global climate change is indisputable and that carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and alterations in the earth's ecosystems is the primary cause ("Forecast calls for pain," Feb. 6). Since the carbon already in the atmosphere will persist for a thousand years, we must stop and not merely reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we are to stabilize the current status. I agree that society must put a price on carbon dioxide emissions for the universal harm they do. In so doing, as the price increases, clean, non-carbon energy sources will become competitive in the marketplace.

Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., in his unwavering right-wing view, bemoans various initiatives supported by President Barack Obama and Gov. Martin O'Malley as the consequences of the recent election. Yes, the election has consequences, and the list presented by Mr. Ehrlich are precisely the positions that we Democrats voted for: health care reform, women's right to choose, gun control and gay marriage among them ("The vast left-wing conspiracy," Feb. 3). There's also in-state tuition for deserving children of undocumented workers, elimination of capital punishment, support of workers to bargain collectively, repeal of laws that deny voters right to vote, women in combat, expansion of eligibility for food stamps, clean energy, same-day voter registration, unemployment benefits and an increase of the minimum wage.

President Barack Obama's inaugural speech was inspiring and brilliantly focuses on the correct path the nation must take in the future ("Obama 2.0," Jan. 22). The president spelled out a progressive agenda that I and millions of American citizens voted for and on which we expect this president to deliver. Ending two disastrous wars, tighter gun controls, protection of the nation's safety net of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, equality for women, minorities and gays, promotion of clean energy and addressing global warming are all critical parts of the progressive agenda that has made this nation great.

Whatever the election results in November, we and other Quaker groups across the country recognize and emphasize that a balanced budget requires a balanced approach. The balance that concerns us is that between Pentagon spending that has nearly doubled in the past decade and proposed severe cuts in domestic spending for education, health care, clean energy, highway, rail and air transportation, maintenance of public lands and parks and other programs that enhance our daily lives. Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, now in effect, the Pentagon budget is reduced by about 10 percent over 10 years, and the domestic budget by about 8 percent.

WASHINGTON -President Barack Obama's plans to lead America from recession rest in part on a task bigger than a moon shot and the Manhattan Project, as complicated as any feat of economic engineering in the nation's history. His goal, which past presidents have spent more than $100 billion chasing with limited success, is to replace imported oil and other fossil fuels with a so-called "clean energy economy" powered by the wind, the sun and bio-fuels. The stakes are high. If Obama succeeds, he could spark a domestic jobs boom and lead an international fight against climate change.

WITH LOCAL action and global vision, hundreds of millions of people will observe the 31st Earth Day today in events of unparalleled scope and connection. The annual vernal event, which began in the United States in 1970 as a nationwide environmental call to action, is now a full-fledged international celebration. From France to Burkina Faso to China, citizens of Earth will demonstrate their commitment to protect the fragile planet and to assess its environmental health. Borderless Internet communication has spread the message and organized the efforts of once-isolated action groups around the world.

Del. Heather Mizeur writes that she plans to introduce legislation in January to ban fracking in Maryland until the oil and gas industry agrees to fund a study of the "potential threats" of the process ("No studies? No fracking," Sept. 13). Ms. Mizeur raises several arguments about the alleged harm of fracking, yet one wonders what study would determine whether it is safe. Her statement that the reason for her bill is that the commission studying the matter "does not have dedicated resources to fund this issue" is laughable, since the legislature could have created funding for the study but chose not to so. Ms. Mizeur can't seem to understand that the industry has legitimate grounds to be wary of paying a "fee" to fund a study that will be based more on politics than on science.

A top O'Malley administration energy official has left Annapolis, where he's had mixed success pushing for wind and solar projects, for the fiercer political winds of Washington. Malcolm D. Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration for the past five years, has joined " Advanced Energy Economy ," a new national business association that seeks to promote energy efficiency as well as wind, solar and nuclear power.  As the group's vice president for government and regulatory affairs, he said he expects to spend time advocating for favorable policies in Washington and in state capitals.