Congressman John Sarbanes is right when he says his legislation, the PACE Tax Benefits Act, will support a program that will "sustain a long-term movement toward energy efficiency and renewable-energy generation" ("Tax-free bond program can create jobs, spur energy-efficiency projects," Dec. 24). In the upcoming legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly will consider a bill that would allow communities to set up a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bond program like the one Mr. Sarbanes promotes, encouraging more Maryland homeowners to take advantage of available technology; citizens can put solar panels on their roofs or invest in energy-efficiency retrofits at a much smaller upfront cost and pay these loans back over time.

Maryland is a national leader in clean energy, and this legislation would be another important step in ensuring that more Marylanders have the opportunity to participate in the transformation of our state's economy into one fueled by clean energy. Shea Kinser The writer is clean energy associate for Environment Maryland.