Maryland Climate Plan Passes Key Tests in UMD Studies—Improves Electric Reliability; …

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/uniini/release.cfm?ArticleID=2545

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2011
Contacts: Neil Tickner, 301 405 4622 or [e-mail]

Maryland Climate Plan Passes Key Tests in UMD Studies

Improves Electric Reliability; Negligible Impact on Manufacturers

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 meets a series of benchmark tests set by state lawmakers, concludes a new pair of studies by the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER). The findings should help clear the way for adoption of a full Climate Action Plan next year, the researchers say.

Maryland's 2009 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act ordered independent studies to make sure that its provisions won't hurt the reliability of the state's electricity supply or damage the manufacturing sector of the economy. The CIER studies give State plans a passing grade on these scores and project some upsides:

• Improves reliability of electric service for consumers and industry;
• No expected loss of jobs;
• May stimulate some "green" jobs;
• No economic harm to Maryland's manufacturing sector.

"We can allay critics' fears," says University of Maryland School of Public Policy Professor Matthias Ruth, the study's principal investigator and CIER director. "Our studies confirm that sound environmental responses to climate change do not have to come at the expense of Maryland's economy, or put a crimp in the availability of electricity in the State. To the contrary, we see net benefits."

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[kristopher]

1. Of course it does. NT

[bananas]

2. Local initiatives are moving forward: Think globally, act locally. nt