Maryland Governor Hogan’s CARES Bills Embrace Climate-Destroying Nuclear Energy, Fracked Gas as “Clean and Renewable”

Annapolis, MD -- Governor Hogan’s CARES legislation, the text of which his office released today, includes the possibility of nuclear power and fracked gas under the claim the two are “clean” forms of energy, in spite of the devastation both cause to public safety, human health, and the environment.

The legislation proposes: 

• Replacing the Renewable Portfolio Standard with a Clean and Renewable Portfolio Standard 
• Including natural gas and biomass as clean energy if accompanied by a carbon capture system 
• Incentivizing the building of new nuclear reactors, including small nuclear reactors  
• Using existing nuclear energy to offset the potential development of new wind and solar 
• Expanding the credits available for large hydropower 
• Removing waste-to-energy and black liquor as qualifying energy sources 
• Reaching 100% “clean and renewable” energy by 2040 

In response, Rianna Eckel, Senior Maryland Organizer with Food & Water Action, has given the following statement:   

“Governor Hogan’s irresponsible CARES plan would do nothing other than lead Maryland down a path of climate disaster. Very little in the bill implies that Hogan and his administration considered the health and safety of Marylanders while drafting CARES. He proposes a devil’s bargain by offering to remove subsidies for trash incineration and black liquor, while offering fracked gas and nuclear in their place. This proposal is pushing polluting energy sources and would lock us into reliance on fossil fuels and inequitable forms of power, while doing nothing to incentivize the development of truly clean, renewable energy. Instead of pushing the development of new nuclear reactors, using existing nuclear energy to offset wind and solar growth, and promoting fracked gas as clean energy if accompanied by carbon capture, the Governor should push Maryland toward the future we need and deserve --  with an equitable transition to a truly green economy. The clock is ticking, and Maryland’s future depends on bold climate leadership.”