The Maryland Senate has voted to continue pushing forward with greenhouse gas reduction.
The Senate voted 38-8 on Tuesday for the bill.
Maryland’s current greenhouse gas reduction requirement is 25 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. The bill passed Tuesday sets a 40 percent reduction by 2030 from 2006 levels.
Supporters cited powerful storms in recent years as evidence climate change was being felt in a state with a large amount of coastline. Opponents called it a mandate that threatens to hurt businesses.
Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George’s County Democrat who sponsored the bill, says Maryland is on pace to exceed the 2020 goals because of steps taken in the initial law approved six years ago.