March 2, 2021

Dear Governor Hogan, Speaker Jones, and President Ferguson,

The State of Maryland has emerged as one of the country’s climate and clean energy leaders.

We, the people of Maryland, know that climate change is an urgent threat to cities and communities across our state, and our leaders should be commended for their efforts to accelerate the necessary transition to a clean energy future. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) is an important example of Maryland’s climate leadership, setting out bold targets to achieve 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent clean power by 2040.

These goals are ambitious, but we know they are what science demands of us. The Maryland Commission on Climate Change has affirmed the state must adopt bold emissions reduction goals to align with the scientific findings of the world’s most prominent climate science authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Now, Maryland is in a race against the clock. We have less than two decades to fundamentally transform our energy and electricity systems, and only 49 percent of Maryland’s electricity generation comes from clean sources of energy. Ambitious action is urgently needed – not only to meet these important goals, but also to avoid the dangerous potential near-term impacts of climate change.

Maryland is not alone in grappling with this challenge, but we have one very important tool in our toolbox: a strong, nuclear energy resource. To put Maryland firmly on the right path to quickly and cost-effectively reach 100 percent clean power, carbon-free nuclear energy must be part of the equation.

That’s why we, the undersigned signatories, have united to form Nuclear Powers Maryland, a coalition of like-minded organizations who recognize that Maryland has an opportunity to be a national clean energy leader dedicated to educating policymakers and the public about the value of carbon-free nuclear energy in accelerating the State of Maryland’s clean energy transition.

Nationwide, carbon-free nuclear energy generates nearly 20 percent of all electric power and almost 55 percent of America’s carbon-free energy. In Maryland alone, nuclear accounts for an even greater share, providing nearly 38 percent of all electricity generated in the state and 82 percent of its carbon-free energy. Nuclear energy is critical to enabling companies, cities, and communities to accelerate their transition to clean electricity, and provides an important opportunity to reduce emissions, create jobs, clean the air, and rebuild our state economy in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Unfortunately, opponents have repeatedly sought to undermine nuclear energy. Nuclear Powers Maryland is committed to working with our state and local policymakers to ensure they fully understand the urgent need to recognize the benefits of nuclear energy in statewide energy policies. Without proper support from our leaders, Maryland will fail to quickly and cost-effectively meet its climate and clean energy goals.

As we work together to meet the demands of this moment, Maryland must build upon its strong record of clean energy leadership and carbon-free electricity generation. We have an unprecedented opportunity to seize upon clean energy progress to drive economic growth for years to come. Let’s get to work.

Signed,

American Nuclear Society
Calvert County Chamber of Commerce
Calvert County Government
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
Centrus Energy, Bethesda
EXCEL Services Corporation, Rockville
Exelon Generation, Calvert County
Nuclear Energy Institute
Orano USA, Bethesda
Sensible Energy Matters to America (SEMA), Rockville
Studsvik Scandpower, Gaithersburg
X-energy, Greenbelt

About Nuclear Powers Maryland: Nuclear Powers Maryland is a statewide coalition of clean energy advocates dedicated to supporting the State of Maryland’s transition to clean energy. Comprised of a diverse group of like-minded organizations – energy and electric companies, non-profits, local governments and trade associations – the coalition is dedicated to educating the public about the value of carbon-free nuclear power and supporting Maryland’s continued clean energy progress and economic growth. For more information, visit www.nuclearpowersmd.com or follow @nuclearpowersmd on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

CC:

Ben Grumbles, Maryland Secretary of the Environment

Jason Stanek, Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission

Members of the Senate Finance Committee
Delores G. Kelley, Chair
Brian J. Feldman, Vice-Chair
Malcolm L. Augustine
Pamela G. Beidle
Joanne C. Benson
Antonio L. Hayes
Stephen S. Hershey, Jr.
J. B. Jennings
Katherine A. Klausmeier
Benjamin F. Kramer
Justin D. Ready

Members of the House Economic Matters Committee
Dereck E. Davis, Chair
Kathleen M. Dumais, Vice-Chair
Christopher T. Adams
Steven J. Arentz
Talmadge Branch
Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr.
Edward P. (Ned) Carey
Lorig Charkoudian
Brian M. Crosby
Diana M. Fennell
Mark N. Fisher
Seth Howard
Richard K. Impallaria
Carl W. Jackson
John F. Mautz IV
Jesse T. Pippy
Lily Qi
Pamela E. Queen
Michael J. Rogers
Veronica L. Turner
Kriselda Valderrama
Jay Walker
M. Courtney Watson
C. T. Wilson