April 12, 2012
Economists that political bickering should not overshadow that Maryland needs to find new solutions for its energy future. They say the state should consider a range of resources -- not just offshore wind and natural gas, but land-based wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear, too. The state currently imports about 30% of its electricity, making it the fourth largest energy importer in the U.S.. (Watch animation of fracking and see map of offshore wind.) [...more]
April 8, 2012
Most Marylanders will see their flush tax bill double from $30 to $60 beginning July 1, but the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund will remain vulnerable to raids that have climbed to $290 million since 2010.
The Senate approved the fee increase in 28-18 vote late Saturday, with an amendment that exempts residents far western Maryland and the Ocean City area that are not part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage area. [...more]
April 6, 2012
Floor debate in the House over the administration’s signature land preservation bill invoked common themes from Republicans about growing state control over rural and agricultural land, but the bill passed with a vote of 93-45. [...more]
April 5, 2012
A controversial septic bill that passed the Senate late last month was approved by the House Environmental Matters Committee on Wednesday by a vote of 17-7, mostly along party lines. [...more]
April 3, 2012
As the lid closes on the 2012 legislative session, lawmakers will likely double the flush tax from $30 to $60 to cover a projected $385 million shortfall in the Bay Restoration Fund, but some lawmakers say the tax hike aims to cover repeated raids on the fund that triggered a downgrade by Moody’s Investor Service 14 months ago. [...more]
It was an unusual sight Monday night as hundreds of people joined hands and encircled the State House to show support for wind power legislation. More than 400 turned out to push for final passage of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s offshore wind energy bill, which passed the House of Delegates last week and must now clear the Senate. [...more]
March 29, 2012
The House cleared the O’Malley administration’s offshore wind power bill for final passage Thursday -- enduring heavy gusts from Republican lawmakers who questioned the cost and viability of putting 40 wind turbines off the coast of Ocean City. [...more]
March 27, 2012
The Senate passed an O’Malley administration bill to increase control over septic systems for new developments in a 32-14 vote, with all 12 Republicans opposing a bill they called a move to centralized planning.
“This bill clearly is a down-zoning,” said Sen. Barry Glassman, who lives on a farm in Harford County. It will cause farms to lose 30-40% of the value of their land, he said. [...more]
Legislation that would have nearly doubled the price of hunting licenses faced a rare defeat in the House of Delegates Monday night after a lively debate.
The bill would have increased the cost of a hunting license from $24.50 to $40 as well as imposed various other fees related to hunting stamps. [...more]
March 26, 2012
House lawmakers Monday night passed a 7.5% state severance tax on natural gas in a 82-51 vote, after the delegates on Saturday fended off an amendment from Del. Wendell Beitzel, R-Garrett, that would cap state and local taxes on natural gas extraction at 7.5% combined. [...more]
