Tim Wheeler has the details.

O’Malley release

Governor O’Malley Highlights Maryland Businesses Committed to Sustainability

Maryland Green Registry recognizes Maryland businesses for their environmental efforts

BALTIMORE, MD (September 30, 2009) –Today at the Baltimore Coca-Cola Bottling Facility, Governor Martin O’Malley highlighted the Maryland Green Registry, a voluntary self-certification program designed to promote and recognize “greening” efforts by organizations of all types and sizes in the State. The Governor toured the facility, one of the first Maryland Green Registry members, to learn about Coca-Cola’s corporate responsibility and recycling, water, and energy conservation sustainability efforts. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce endorsed the program at today’s event, which was attended by Maryland Green Registry members who shared information and best practices, Coca-Cola employees, and other State and local officials.

“Maryland businesses and other organizations already know that even relatively simple steps to reduce our impact on the environment save money and create a healthier workplace,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The Maryland Green Registry provides an opportunity for these organizations to share their stories and inspire others to take steps to protect our air, land, and water, including the Chesapeake Bay. We’re fortunate to have nearly 80 organizations in our State who have agreed to come forward and participate – including this Coca-Cola bottling facility – and we hope to have hundreds more organizations join us.”

Membership is free and encourages businesses, churches, schools, governments, and other organizations to share information on the practices they have in place to reduce the environmental impact of their facilities and services.

Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson said: “The Maryland Department of the Environment’s mission protects the environment and public health in part through enacting and enforcing strong environmental laws, but we also work to help Marylanders – organizations and individuals – voluntarily take action to be “green.” The Maryland Green Registry is a great example of this.”

To become a member, Maryland organizations are encouraged to visit the Maryland Green Registry website at www.green.maryland.gov and complete a best practices profile. The registry includes checklists for best practices in the areas of environmental management and leadership; waste reduction; energy and water conservation; transportation; and green building design. The checklists offer examples of activities to be included in the organization’s profile, as well as inspiration and ideas for future efforts.

Participating organizations receive a Green Registry window decal for display, and their profiles are be posted online to demonstrate each member’s environmental commitment.

Introduced by Governor Martin O’Malley in October 2008, Smart, Green & Growing was created to foster a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for Maryland families. The Initiative is bringing together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to revitalize communities, improve transit, create green jobs, address climate change, conserve energy, preserve land, and restore the Chesapeake Bay

WBAL TV

Anne Arundel County health officials are warning swimmers to stay out of the water at Lower Magothy Beach near Cattail Creek.

Officials said high bacteria levels found in water samples pose a threat to swimmers or others who come in contact with the water.

[...]

Tests are conducted every month at Lower Magothy Beach and another test is planned Monday.

Baltimore County

First GE Ecomagination Green Homes in Maryland to be Certified as LEED Gold

Towson, Md. (June 8, 2009)-This afternoon, some 100 green building advocates and members of Baltimore County’s Sustainability Network celebrated the grand opening of Spencer’s Crossing – the state’s first residential development to achieve Gold LEED status (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Developed by the local firm Builders One, these new carriage homes located in Timonium, Maryland are projected to cut home heating and cooling costs by 53 percent compared to standard construction.

Green Renaissance Citation

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith presented a Green Renaissance Citation honoring Builders One for their commitment to providing the opportunity for homebuyers to purchase a home with superior energy-efficiency and minimal impact on the natural environment.

“These homes are not only the beginning of a beautiful new community, but outstanding examples of Baltimore County businesses taking their responsibility to our environment seriously,” Smith said. “It is this kind of responsible innovation that will help us achieve our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Baltimore County by 10 percent by 2012.”

Homebuyers who purchase one of these homes will be eligible for a new Baltimore County tax credit that could save them 60 percent on their property taxes for three years. Green elements in these homes include eco-friendly construction methods, fresh air ventilation, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems and more.

Ecomagination

The homes are part of a GE program called “Ecomagination,” which features the GE Dashboard – an innovative, wall-mounted interface that manages household systems. It monitors electricity and water use, sets desired room temperatures, has optional features such as audio and lighting controls and a security system.

Spencer’s Crossing uses Intra built system technology SM giving Builders One the green edge. The system is an inherently eco-friendly building practice in which high-quality modular components are built in a controlled manufacturing environment. This process produces superior quality construction that is inherently tighter and more energy-efficient. Builders One purchases and transports materials in bulk, saving fuel costs. The computerized building process in a climate controlled facility reduces normal emission output and construction waste by 40 percent.

Press Release of Senator Cardin

CARDIN PRAISES OBAMA PROPOSAL FOR HIGHER FUEL ECONOMY, CUTS TO HARMFUL EMISSIONS

Final target equal to standard Maryland was ready to adopt

Contact: Sue Walitsky: 202-224-4524
Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Click here for a PDF Document

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today commended President Obama for proposing historic standards for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. The new national standard would match the final goal of what has become known as the “California Waiver,” which would have allowed states like Maryland to adopt major pollution reduction measures that would reduce harmful emissions by 30% in all vehicles sold by 2016 as well as provide major reductions in summertime smog.

“President Obama rightly continues to follow a path that values science above politics to protect the health and welfare of all Americans and our environment,” said Senator Cardin. “The connection between global warming and greenhouse gas emissions is well documented so the announcement today of new national standards for car emissions is welcome news for Maryland and more than a dozen other states like California that had lobbied for such changes.

“Marylanders and all Americans have a right to clean air. Cars that will meet the new greenhouse gas standards will help clear our air of pollutants that contribute to smog. In Maryland, mobile sources are not only the leading cause of smog but are also one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions. We have some of the worst smog in the nation, and during ‘Code Red’ days, more than 70 percent of the pollution comes from cars and light trucks.”

The Obama Administration is proposing tough new fuel economy standards and the first ever greenhouse gas pollution standards for cars. The program will begin in model year 2012. By 2016 the fleet average will be 35.5 miles per gallon, which is four years earlier than the CAFE law requires. The current CAFE law required a 35 miles per gallon in model year 2020.

Senator Cardin and a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to President-Elect Obama in December urging him to move swiftly to fulfill his campaign promise allowing Maryland, California and other states to cut dangerous emissions from cars and trucks beyond federal levels in an effort to reduce global warning.