Annapolis, MD — Today, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan promoted his “Clean and Renewable Energy Standard” (CARES) plan, which falsely promises “100 clean electricity” by 2040. In reality, Hogan’s plan relies on coal and fracked gas for decades.
The Hogan Administration released a draft climate action plan in October (more than nine months later than legally required per the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2016) that included emissions projections with the assumption that CARES would take effect. That plan includes data that shows electricity generated from coal continuing through 2040. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, coal must be completely phased out in the near future to prevent extreme levels of global warming.
The “CARES” plan released today also relies on the continued use of polluting fracked gas. This comes as no surprise after the Hogan Administration has worked hand-in-hand with big gas corporations to expand pipelines in Maryland. The methane emissions that come from fracked gas are 86 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide pollution, yet Hogan’s plan relies heavily on its expanded use.
Steven Hershkowitz, Maryand Director of the CCAN Action Fund, released the following statement:
“Today, Governor Hogan attempted to greenwash his climate record by rehashing his ‘CARES’ plan. But his announcement today told us nothing we didn’t already know: Hogan’s plan falls far short of what the science demands, relying on fracked gas and other fossil fuels for decades to come.
“With ten years left to cut our emissions 60 percent, and President Trump sabotaging any progress at the national level, it is up to states to develop models for bold climate action before it’s too late. Yet the Hogan Administration is pushing for more fracked-gas infrastructure, which will emit the powerful greenhouse gas methane. Under Hogan’s ‘CARES’ plan, Marylanders will see quality of life decline, especially in frontline and disadvantaged communities, in the coming decades.
“We look forward to working with the Maryland legislature to come up with a better climate plan that makes our state a lead on the climate crisis and creates a truly clean economy.”
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CONTACT:
Steven Hershkowitz, Maryland Director, steven@chesapeakeclimate.org, 301-941-7886
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-630-1889
The CCAN Action Fund is the advocacy arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 17 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
