* 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 Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Action - Support the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act
FOR the purpose of calling on the General Assembly to enact, and the Governor to sign, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (S.B. 921/ H.B. 1106) to combat climate change, create and sustain jobs where they're needed most, and start to unlock the full talent of our state's clean energy entrepreneurs.
body
Recitals
The Clean Energy Jobs Act (S.B. 921/ H.B. 1106) would raise Maryland�s clean energy renewable portfolio standard to 25% by 2020 and invest $40 million into workforce development as well as small minority- and women-owned business enterprises in the renewable energy industry.
A 25% clean electricity standard will create incentives for roughly 1,300 megawatts of new clean energy in our region and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.7 million metric tons per year. That�s the carbon equivalent of taking 563,000 passenger vehicles off the road every year, which will also deliver improved public health outcomes, cleaner air, and cleaner water.
By increasing our clean power to 25% by 2020, Maryland is also poised to stimulate a statewide resurgence of manufacturing and construction jobs. By increasing the carve out for solar, we will see new solar companies in Maryland and the growth of over 1,000 new high paying Maryland solar jobs during the construction period. Increased incentives for land based wind power would create another 4,600 jobs in our region.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act also intends to couple higher renewable energy goals with millions in new funding for clean energy workforce training, minority and women owned business growth, and other potential programs to promote a sustainable economy.
Maryland�s �Strategic Energy Investment Fund� (SEIF), is a special, non lapsing fund established by lawmakers for low income rate assistance and clean energy and energy efficiency investments. The primary source of funding for SEIF comes from carbon allowance auctions through Maryland�s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative � a multi state effort to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.
This fund has $40 million of unallocated contributions as a result of a 2014 order by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The order required Dominion Resources to pay into the SEIF as a condition of its construction permit for a natural gas export facility in Calvert County.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act would direct $10 million of those SEIF funds into the Maryland Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Program to create a Clean Energy Workforce Account. The account would support pre apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and other workforce programs to establish career pathways in the clean energy industry.
Priority within the competitive grant process for this EARN funding will be given to strategic industry partnerships that seek to advance employment opportunities and provide necessary job readiness training to individuals from economically distressed areas that have high rates of unemployment or low median household income. Priority will also be given to partnerships that seek to provide employment opportunities and job readiness training to workers with barriers to employment.
$30 million more from SEIF would be dedicated to financing a Clean Energy Business Development Fund within Maryland�s Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Account. The account, administered by the Comptroller of Maryland under the authority of the Board of Public Works, makes grants to eligible �fund managers� to provide investment capital and loans to small, minority, and women owned businesses in the state.
This funding would seek to advance employment opportunities and job readiness from economically distressed areas with high areas of unemployment. The law also seeks to advance opportunities to provide job training for workers who are veterans of the armed forces and those who face barriers to entry into the labor force such as homelessness, prior criminal records,
or, unemployment with no high school education.
Maryland should enact policies that encourage the clean energy industry to grow, while also putting in place funding mechanisms to increase the diversity of business owners and employees. By increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard to 25% by 2020 and investing $40 million into clean energy workforce training and minority and women-owned business growth, Maryland can combat climate change, create and sustain jobs where they�re needed most, and start to unlock the full talent of our state�s clean energy entrepreneurs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council calls on the General Assembly to enact, and the Governor to sign, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (S.B. 921/ H.B. 1106) to combat climate change, create and sustain jobs where they�re needed most, and start to unlock the full talent of our state�s clean energy entrepreneurs.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Maryland House Speaker, the Mayor, and the Mayor�s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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