Friends, Please ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO SB 690 [Environment issue]
Update: A good explanation of the issue in the Sun: <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-05-09/news/bs-ed-waste-energy-20110509_1_goals-for-renewable-energy-incineration-trash">http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-05-09/news/bs-ed-waste-energy-20110509_1_goals-for-renewable-energy-incineration-trash</a>;
Veto SB 690!
Please veto SB 690 and keep the bar high for renewable energy. Incineration is bad for our health, bad for the environment, and bad for our clean energy future.
1. Waste incinerators do not generate clean renewable energy. Waste incinerators release pollutants through air and ash emissions, including toxins like mercury, lead, dioxins, and PCBs, as well as pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain.
2. Waste incinerators undermine efforts to fight climate change. According to the EPA, incineration produces more CO2 per megawatt hour than any other form of power generation. They produce nearly 25 percent more CO2 per unit of electricity than coal!
3. Promoting incineration as a Tier 1 renewable would dilute Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard and undermine urgently needed progress toward legitimate clean, renewable energy. Burning trash competes with legitimate renewable energy; SB 690 would dilute the standard and negate the impact of the RPS in driving the development of renewable energy.
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Email: Governor@gov.state.md.us
Fax: 410-974-3275 (capitol)
Fax: 410-974-3275 (district)
Print and mail letter:
Governor Martin O'Malley
Office of the Governor
State House, 100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Capitol fax: 4109743275
District fax: 4109743275
Make a phone call:
410-974-3901 (capitol)
SB 690 text: <a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/sb/sb0690e.pdf">http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/sb/sb0690e.pdf</a>;
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.