Section 2-1205 - Adoption of plan, regulations, and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - Maryland Statutes

§ 2-1205. Adoption of plan, regulations, and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 

(a)  In general.- The State shall develop a plan, adopt regulations, and implement programs that reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with this subtitle. 

(b)  Proposed plan to be submitted by end of 2011.- On or before December 31, 2011, the Department shall: 

(1) Submit a proposed plan to the Governor and General Assembly; 

(2) Make the proposed plan available to the public; and 

(3) Convene a series of public workshops to provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan. 

(c)  Adoption of final plan.-  

(1) The Department shall, on or before December 31, 2012, adopt a final plan that reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 2006 levels by 2020. 

(2) The plan shall be developed as the initial State action in recognition of the finding by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that developed countries will need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 80% and 95% from 1990 levels by 2050. 

(d)  Contents.- The final plan required under subsection (c) of this section shall include: 

(1) Adopted regulations that implement all plan measures for which State agencies have existing statutory authority; and 

(2) A summary of any new legislative authority needed to fully implement the plan and a timeline for seeking legislative authority. 

(e)  Consulting.- In developing and adopting a final plan to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions, the Department shall consult with State and local agencies as appropriate. 

(f)  Requirements for regulations.-  

(1) Unless required by federal law or regulations or existing State law, regulations adopted by State agencies to implement the final plan may not: 

(i) Require greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the State's manufacturing sector; or 

(ii) Cause a significant increase in costs to the State's manufacturing sector. 

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be construed to exempt greenhouse gas emissions sources in the State's manufacturing sector from the obligation to comply with: 

(i) Greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for which the Department had existing authority under § 2-301(a) of this title on or before October 1, 2009; or 

(ii) Greenhouse gas emissions reductions required of the manufacturing sector as a result of the State's implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

(g)  Construction of regulations.- A regulation adopted by a State agency for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with this section may not be construed to result in a significant increase in costs to the State's manufacturing sector unless the source would not incur the cost increase but for the new regulation. 
 

[2009, ch. 171, § 3; ch. 172, § 3.]