A plan for drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions could create thousands of jobs and be worth $2 billion for Maryland in energy savings and revenue, according to a report released Wednesday by the Commission on Climate Change.
“Energy efficiency is the fastest and least expensive approach available to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions,” the report states.
The commission’s report outlines 42 policies that would allow the state to reduce global warming pollution 40 percent to 50 percent by 2020. Gov. Martin O’Malley instructed the committee in April 2007 to determine the consequences of climate change and ways to reduce emissions.
By implementing these strategies, which address areas such as energy supply, transportation and land use, Maryland could create between 144,000 and 326,000 jobs in the clean energy industry. This would contribute $5.7 billion in wages and boost revenues by $973 million, according to the report.
“We see a huge opportunity to create green jobs through energy efficiency programs,” said Tad Aburn, director of the Maryland Department of the Environment’s air and radiation management division, who chaired a committee working group.
“It’s very aggressive but it’s also very achievable,” Aburn said of the goals outlined in the report.
Some of the policies are easy to implement or have already been adopted, Aburn said. For example, the state’s Clean Cars Act passed last year will require more rigorous emission standards.
Other strategies are more complicated and will require more review, such as a proposal for a program that would require electricity companies serving the state to meet a low carbon limit, he said. These standards are more controversial, Aburn said.
“It’s a good framework on how to reach the long-term goals,” said Tommy Landers, policy associate for advocacy group Environment Maryland.
Legislators need to consider specific language and measures that create the jobs and provide training, Landers said.
“Now it’s up to the General Assembly to turn this plan into practice,” he said.
As a coastal state, Maryland is particularly vulnerable to climate change, officials said.
“It matters a lot whether we take actions or not, in terms of how serious the consequences will be,” said Don Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, who played a major role in the assessing the effects of global warming on the state.
“The climate is going to change and there will be impacts,” he said, “but it will be less severe” if emissions are reduced.
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