* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Legislation - House Bill 1016 and Senate Bill 595- Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Solar Energy
FOR the purpose of supporting this legislation that would alter renewable energy portfolio standards by requiring that certain portions of electricity in the standard be derived from solar energy; urging the Honorable Chairs and Members of the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Finance Committee and requesting the Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
Body
Recitals
This legislation allows for solar energy to finally be a viable alternative for both the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland by creating the opportunity for Renewable Energy Credits to be sold by allowing for long-term solar energy contracts. The legislation will also support green industry and economic development, and reduce costs associated with conventional power plant pollutants - smog, acid rain, mercury pollution, lung cancer, and asthma.
Maryland has become a developing center of the high-tech solar PV industry, one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. This energy source supports more jobs per watt than any other; however, only a negligible amount of the solar energy created in Maryland, stays in Maryland.
BP Solar, with its North American headquarters and manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, is one of the largest solar facilities in the World and home to more than 500 of the organization's 2,200 global employees. Currently, at least 99% of this plant's output leaves Maryland for states with superior policies.
Sun Edison is currently headquartered in Baltimore City and is the nation's largest commercial photovoltaic developer. In the past 2 years, Sun Edison has developed more than 100 solar projects nationwide, including many of the nation's largest solar plants. Much of the recent growth has been in their Maryland headquarters, with nearly 100 management and design/engineering employees.
According to a renewable energy policy report, other Maryland Industries that would be encouraged by the development of a robust solar industry in the state include manufacturing of plastics material and resins, plastic films, flat glass, wire and switchgear, sheet metal, semiconductors, etc.- industries that collectively employ more than 5,000 Maryland residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that would alter renewable energy portfolio standards by requiring that certain portions of electricity in the standard be derived from solar energy; urging the Honorable Chairs and Members of the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Finance Committee and requesting the Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chairs of the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Finance Committee are respectfully requested to include this Resolution as part of the Committee record of support for legislative proposals to alter renewable energy portfolio standards by requiring that certain portions of electricity in the standard be derived from solar energy.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, the Honorable Curt Anderson, the Honorable Nathan McFadden, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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