Maryland Energy Talk explores how we can build a cleaner, more affordable, reliable, energy system for Maryland. We will explore new ideas about energy and revi...
Advanced Clean Cars II is, according to MDE, Maryland’s single largest climate pollution reduction strategy over the long term, and Advanced Clean Trucks is a second program having a significant positive impact on Maryland’s transition off of fossil fuels. Unfortunately, there is legislation being considered this year, HB1556, that would delay the enforcement of both of these programs. In that context, I wanted to talk with Maryland’s leading clean transportation expert and advocate, Lindsey Mendelson who is the Senior Transportation Campaign Representative at Maryland Sierra Club to talk about Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks, the benefits that these programs have for Maryland, and why it’s more important than ever to defend them.Â
-------- Â
45:47
The Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Today we take a break from our normal energy focused programing to talk about a historic and nationally significant bill moving through the legislature in Maryland, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board HB424/SB357. At a time when prices for everything are going up, Maryland lawmakers have found a way to lower the cost to Marylander of one of the most expensive and necessary items in many of our lives, prescription drugs. To tell us all about it I am overjoyed to have on the show today the founder and executive director of the Maryland Citizens Health Initiative and my wonderful dad, Vincent DeMarco.
-------- Â
29:06
New Modeling on Maryland’s Electricity Grid
In Annapolis there is much debate about what Maryland’s electric grid does or doesn’t need, one thing that has been decidedly absent is any publicly available modeling about Maryland’s electric grid. That’s why I am so thrilled that the respected modeling firm Center for Climate Strategies has just put out a new report based on a model they created of Maryland’s energy system. This report has so many helpful insights that are directly relevant to policies currently being considered by lawmakers in Annapolis. For example, there is no publicly available modeling showing that Maryland needs new gas generation in order to meet growing energy demand, and spoiler alert, this report also does not find that Maryland needs new gas to meet growing demand. To talk about that and the many other revelations from the model he created and the report he just released, my guest today is Tom Peterson, the founder and CEO of Center for Climate Strategies. To see the full CCS report click here.
-------- Â
54:23
What's in a REC?
I have a real treat to share with you today, a conversation with Delegate Charkoudian explaining what a Renewable Energy Credit is! This is another one from the vault, and this is actually the very first conversation we recorded together, the one that got this whole podcast started. A Renewable Energy Credit is really the building block that makes up our entire clean energy policy, and you really can’t understand our energy policies without a full understanding of what a REC is, and every kind of REC is different in its own unique way. This is a fun one and I hope you enjoy it.
-------- Â
54:13
What's The Deal With All The Energy Bills?
I think everyone in Annapolis is aware there are a lot of energy bills flying around, but not everyone is fully up to date on each of the bills, what they do, and how they interact. The goal of this episode is to give you a crash course on the biggest electricity generation bills this year and what they all mean. We will talk about the three bills in the energy package that the Senate President and Speaker of the House put together, including the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act, and the next Generation Energy Act. We will also talk about the Governor’s ENERGIZE Act and review Delegate Charkoudian and Senator Brook’s Abundant, Affordable, Clean Energy Act. To help us walk through all these bills I have a very special guest today: one of the great energy experts and advocates in Annapolis, Brittany Baker who is the Maryland Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.Â
Maryland Energy Talk explores how we can build a cleaner, more affordable, reliable, energy system for Maryland. We will explore new ideas about energy and review the fundamentals of our energy system.
USA