In front of a joint hearing of House and Senate committees, Senate leadership lobbied for their bills aimed at lowering energy prices and increasing production in Maryland. The Next Generation Energy Act outlines the state’s support for maintaining and opening new nuclear power plants.
See the full story at WMAR News Baltimore.
More DMV News
Divergent Views on Regulating Data Centers in Frederick County Divides County Council
WUSA9 News
At the heart of the recent debate is whether the Frederick County Council should have the final say in approving data center locations, even if zoning laws permit them. One faction argues that data centers should be allowed to operate in any properly zoned area without additional political intervention. Opposing them are those who believe the council should retain final oversight to prevent unchecked expansion, which is known as a “floating zone” provision.
Court Freezes Order on Virginia’s RGGI Exit
E&E News
A state court has agreed to temporarily freeze its ruling from last year determining that Virginia environmental regulators illegally withdrew from a regional carbon-trading program. The state will remain out of the regional carbon-trading program, pending appeal of a finding that the state’s withdrawal was illegal.
Bills That Change How Localities Can Conserve Trees Amid Development Await Youngkin’s Approval
Virginia Mercury
Two bills were passed by the Virginia General Assembly this session that would give localities statewide access to more comprehensive laws regarding what happens to trees on land zoned for development. Gov. Glenn Youngkin must make a final decision on the fate of the measures by March 24.
Maryland’s Recycling Needs Assessment Sheds Light on Possible EPR Impacts
Waste Dive
Maryland’s state recycling needs assessment, along with a new recommendation report from a state advisory group, aims to shape future extended producer responsibility legislation in the state.
National and International News
Half of World’s CO2 Emissions Come From 36 Fossil Fuel Firms, Study Shows
The Guardian
The report found that the 36 major fossil fuel companies, including Saudi Aramco, Coal India, ExxonMobil, Shell and numerous Chinese companies, produced coal, oil and gas responsible for more than 20bn tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2023.
Experts Say Attempted Mass Firing of NOAA Workers May be Illegal and Threatens Public Safety
Inside Climate News
Weather forecasters, climate modelers, glacier scientists and crew members on research ships received termination emails, while a federal judge simultaneously ordered the Trump administration to rescind firing orders.
EPA $20B Funding Freeze Leaves ‘Green Bank’ Nonprofits Unable to Pay Bills
Utility Dive
The Environmental Protection Agency has frozen access to $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants, leaving the grantees in a precarious financial position, said a spokesperson for the Climate United Fund.
Trump Hollowed Out the Government’s Carbon Removal Team
Heatmap
Grant Faber suspected his short tenure as the program manager for the Department of Energy’s direct air capture hubs initiative was up when he saw an article circulating that the department was set to terminate up to 2,000 employees — generally those who were new to their jobs. When he hadn’t received any news by the end of the day on Thursday, February 13, he told me he felt a sense of “anticipatory survivor’s guilt.” But it wouldn’t last long.
Trump, EPA Aim to Remove Finding That Mandates Action on Greenhouse Gas Pollution
Inside Climate News
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in recent days recommended to the White House that the agency should rescind its 16-year-old finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and the environment, according to several reports citing unnamed sources.