The future of Maryland’s energy use is looking a little greener after the midterm election.
With a roster of newly elected officials in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate, legislation promising a larger commitment to renewable energy is likely to pass next session.
Maryland voters elected in a supermajority of candidates to the General Assembly who have explicitly signed support for the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act.
Generally, a supermajority refers to party affiliation within a state legislature. In this case, though, it means at least three-fifths of the Maryland General Assembly would block Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto to allow the Clean Energy Jobs Act to pass.
If successful, the legislation would bolster the state’s reliance on renewable energy and possibly lead to an expansion of offshore wind projects near Ocean City. Offshore wind has been a highly contested issue on the Eastern Shore for the past few years, so this increased commitment to clean energy could cause more strain on local officials.