Gov. Larry Hogan's signature on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act and following veto of the Clean Energy Jobs Act do not add up ("Hogan differs over energy," June 8). The two bills are obviously concomitant and deleting one frustrates fulfillment of the other. Republicans generally adapt sluggishly to the fact that renewable industries can create economic and environmental progress simultaneously. Governor Hogan may be experiencing such mental hysteresis. This time he found an excuse. He smeared numbers to conjure an insufferable "tax" and used his veto pen as a shield against the imaginary beast. Oops, roughly three quarters of Maryland had already strongly voiced favor for the Act's benefits regardless of any miniscule utility fee attached.
The Act bolsters social and environmental sustainability by ensuring that more energy is purchased locally as solar and wind installations are built, thereby decreasing reliance on dirty foreign fuel. Already, there are more than 182 solar companies in Maryland with roughly 4,300 employees, a number expected to grow by 1,000 yearly once this veto is overridden (hopefully, next session). In the meantime, it has retarded economic growth by delaying statewide investment in renewable industries and in so doing postponed the creation of jobs for engineers, electricians, laborers, etc. That is a failure for one who campaigned on improving Maryland's economy.
Mr. Hogan has revealed himself to be a leader without vision. He must look beyond petty tax squabbles that dissolve in time and recognize some of the more basic reasons why renewable energy is a long term necessity: Continuously decreasing cost combined with EmPOWER benefits save money for consumers and producers. Less pollution means reduced health expenses. Less ecosystem destruction from carbon mining benefits the planet. Investing in our environment now sustains our future — cleaner water, food and air make Maryland more appealing to residents, businesses and tourists.
Kevin Kriescher, Baltimore