Group gives O'Malley good ecology grade

July 23, 2008

The Maryland League of Conservation Voters, a watchdog group that grades Maryland officials on their environmental records, gave Gov. Martin O'Malley the highest grade the organization has ever given to a governor: an A-minus.

The group, which endorsed O'Malley during his 2006 campaign, praised the Democratic governor for supporting legislation last year aimed at reducing emissions from cars and trucks and for pushing through a package of energy bills this year that sets conservation goals and increases reliance on renewable energy.

O'Malley drew low marks for backing the Intercounty Connector between Rockville and Laurel, an 18-mile highway project that environmentalists oppose. The Maryland League has been grading governors every two years since 1997.

Several other environmental groups - including the Audubon Naturalist Society, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Community Research and the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club - accused the league of "grade inflation," saying in a statement that O'Malley's support for the ICC undermines his other environmental efforts.

Also yesterday, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report ranking state responses to oil dependency based on their actions to encourage fuel-efficient vehicles and cleaner fuels, and to promote smart growth and public transit. Maryland was among the top 10 states in the ranking.

Laura Smitherman