Maryland

Maryland is expected to be a leader in climate action, after passing the Climate Solutions Now Act, one of the most ambitious climate laws in the country, in 2022.

Legislative Profile

Governor: Wes Moore (D)

House: Democratic majority

Senate: Democratic majority

U.S. Climate Alliance Member

Key Resources

Maryland State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Maryland Climate Change Portal – Maryland Department of the Environment

Emissions Reduction Targets

By 2031:

60%

By 2045:

Net-zero

Target relative to 2006 levels

2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)

  • Commercial
  • Electric
  • Residential
  • Industrial
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)

Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.

Climate Governance & Equity

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Climate Governance

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Emissions Reduction Target

60% by 2031 | Net-zero by 2045 Relative to 2006 levels

Mandate Source

Mandatory – Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 (SB 528) (2022)

Climate Action Plan

Maryland Climate Pathway Report (2023)

Plan Status

Draft – Due December 2023 

Climate Bureaucracy

Interagency Commissions/Task Forces

Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies

Maryland Commission on Climate Change

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

2017 GHG Emissions Inventory (September 2022)

Mandate Source

Chapter 11 (SB 323) (2016)

Green Bank

Maryland Clean Energy Center, which will administer the Climate Catalytic Capital Fund

Establishing Legislation

HB 1337 (2008)

Climate Catalytic Capital Fund: SB 528 (2022)

Lead by Example

ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**

Public Fleet ZEV Requirements

SB 528 (2022) – By 2031: 100% of the state’s passenger vehicle fleet are ZEVs | By 2036: 100% of the state’s light-duty vehicle fleet are ZEVs

Equity

Environmental Justice Community Designation

Mandate Source

SB 528 – Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 (2022)

Definition

“Overburdened communities” are census tracts where three of more environmental health indicators are above the 75th percentile, including pollution exposure, proximity to environmental hazards, and health outcomes.

“Underserved communities” are census tracts where at least 25% of residents are low-income, 50% are nonwhite, or at least 15% of residents have limited English proficiency

Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No

State EJ Mapping Tools

EJ Community Benefit Requirement

EJ Bureaucracy

EJ Advisory Bodies

Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities

EJ Government Staff

MDE – EJ Coordinator

SB 528 (2022) – Requires the Maryland Department of Environment to provide staff for the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities

**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.

Adaptation & Resilience

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Governance and Planning

Governance Structures

Office Designation

SB 630 (2022) – Establishes the Office of Resilience in the Maryland Department of Emergency Management and creates a Chief Resilience Officer

Task Force/Advisory Group

Adaptation and Resilience Working Group

Maryland CoastSmart Council

Cabinet Commissions and Committees

Adaptation and Resilience Plans

Climate Hazard Mitigation Plans

Solutions and Funding

Building Codes, Land Use, and Zoning

Coast Smart Construction Program

Act 629 / HB 1350/SB 1006 (2018) – Expands the Coast Smart Council, responsible for creating design and siting criteria for “Coast Smart” construction practices to avoid or minimize future impacts on infrastructure associated with coastal flooding and sea level rise

Built/Hard Infrastructure

Grid Resilience Measures

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure Resilience Program

Stormwater Management Act of 2007 (2007) – Requires implementing Environmental Site Design (ESD), a method of using small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural techniques, and better site planning

State Funding

Development Funding

Act 644 (2021) – Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund

SB457 (2020) – Authorizes local governments to establish and fund a Resilience Authority

Disaster Relief Funding

Electricity

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Renewables and Energy Storage

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Renewable Portfolio Standard

Target

30.5% by 2020 | 50% by 2030

Legislation

SB 516 (2019)

Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out

SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*

Net Metering

SPOT Components – 9 out of 11*

Energy Storage Standard

SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*

Shared Renewables

SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*

Grid and Utility Reform

Clean Energy Plan

Grid Modernization Plan

The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.

50-state Ranking – 3rd

Interconnection Standards

SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*

Utility Green Power Option

SPOT Components – 1 out of 6*

New Utility Business Model Proceeding

SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Buildings & Efficiency

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Building Energy Codes

Residential Codes

SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2021 IECC

Commercial Codes

SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2018 IECC

Stretch or Reach Codes

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Efficiency Programs and Incentives

Weatherization Programs

SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*

Energy Auditing Programs

Retrocommissioning Programs

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*

Energy Savings Performance Contracting

SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*

Standards and Market Mechanisms

Energy Efficiency Resource Standard

SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*

Building Performance Standard (BPS)

SB 528 (2022) – Requires the Maryland Department of Environment to develop a BPS for existing, large buildings to reduce direct emissions from buildings by 20% by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2040

Appliance Performance Standard (APS)

HB 772 (2022) – Appliance standards for 13 common household and commercial appliances

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buildings Data Disclosure

Transportation

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Vehicle Standards and Incentives

Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates

Maryland ZEV Program

EV Targets and Sales Requirements

Advanced Clean Cars II (2023) – Model Year (MY) 2027: 43% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards

Advanced Clean Trucks

EV Targets and Sales Requirements

By 2035: 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales are zero emissions | 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales are zero emissions | 40% of truck tractor sales are zero-emissions.

Electric Vehicle Incentives

SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*

Charging Infrastructure Incentives

SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)

State Planning and Investment

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Emissions Reduction Target

On-road emissions: 40% by 2030 Relative to 2006 levels

Mandate Source

Voluntary – 2020 Annual Attainment Report on Transportation System Performance (2020)

Decarbonization Plan

EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans

EV Transit Bus Deployment

The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.

ACEEE Score – 2 out of 6 points

Bicycle Friendly State

The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.

50-state Ranking14th

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Agriculture

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Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance

Mandate Source

Task Force Portal or Action Plan

Soil Health Advisory Committee

Financial Incentives

Technical Assistance & Education Programs

Food Waste Bans and Targets

Food Waste Ban – Required for businesses and institutions that generate at least 2 tons of food waste per week

Mandate Source

Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution – Chapter 439 (2021)

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

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Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations

HFC Regulations

Chapter 26.11.33 (2020)

Methane Regulations

COMAR 26.11.42 (2023) – Control of methane emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills

SF6 Regulations

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buy Clean Requirements

What are we missing? Let us know!

Last Updated December 2023