A Smart, Green & Growing Maryland
There is a Native American proverb that holds, “the way we treat the earth is a reflection of how we treat one another,”… The way we treat the earth is a reflection of how we treat one another. Sadly do I see this truth. But I also have faith and belief in its corollary – that how we treat one another might just usher forth a new era in how we treat the earth.
Governor O’Malley believes that God gives us not only the intellect and imagination to harness nature but the intellect and compassion to protect and conserve it. Because of this, Governor O’Malley has made protecting our environment and restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay one of his top priorities.
Protecting Open Space: Program Open Space has allowed Gov. O’Malley to save over 21,000 acres of Maryland’s most important landscape and to protect the watershed and wildlife that make Maryland great. 21,000 acres is five times more area than the prior administration saved.
Launching Maryland GreenPrint: This first-in-the-nation GIS-based technology has revolutionized the way that Maryland approaches environmental protection efforts. By accurately mapping every plot and parcel of land in the state, ecologists and politicians are able to make well-informed decisions on which land to purchase and protect.
Increasing tree cover: Gov. O’Malley has challenged Marylanders to join together and plant 50,000 trees by the end of 2010 to protect from stormwater runoff, save energy and provide natural beauty to our communities.
Planning for the future: The O’Malley-Brown administration is committing to transit-oriented development, strengthening local capacity for sustainable development and enacting aquaculture enterprise zones – that will bring back Maryland’s shellfish industry.
Restoring the health of Chesapeake Bay: Gov. O’Malley created the innovative BayStat initiative that tracks and targets funding for efforts to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, in a partnership with families living along the banks of the Tred Avon River, 1,000 oyster cages have been placed in the water to replenish the species’ population. Oysters act as a natural filter for the Chesapeake Bay.
Governor O'Malley joined Virginia's Governor Kaine, Washington D.C Mayor Fenty, EPA Administrator Jackson, and representatives of Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York in announcing significant acceleration of our collective Chesapeake Bay restoration actions over the next 2 years. Maryland's actions represent a 138% increase in our rate of nitrogen reduction and an over 500% increase in our rate of phosphorus reduction, and put Maryland on a pace to meet our Bay Restoration Goals by 2020. To find out more visit www.baystat.maryland.gov
Holding the first-ever carbon credits auction: In order to invest in the research and development of clean, efficient energy technologies like solar and wind Maryland held an auction that netted $136 million for the State of Maryland.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas: By signing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, Gov. Martin O’Malley set the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the year 2020. In doing so, Maryland will save $2 billion in energy costs and create 100,000 new green jobs.
Conserving Maryland’s energy: Achieving energy savings of 15% - a goal set by the O’Malley Brown-Administration – is one of the most ambitious in the nation. Maryland is on track to reach this goal by building more efficient buildings and discounting energy saving appliances and light bulbs.
The effects of the nation's economic hardship are hitting Maryland hard. We're fighting every day to protect Maryland’s families during these tough economic times. We’re also working every day to make sure that government and its programs work for people.
