Baltimore couldn’t survive without fossil fuels. All the ships coming in and out of their ports. All the trains. All the truck bringing and taking away the goods. All the vehicles driving through Baltimore. An NFL and MLB team. And then there’s all the tourism in Maryland. All those driving from Maryland into DC and the surrounding area for government jobs. How about all the citizens of Baltimore give up their own use of fossil fuels? Same with Maryland residents?
How can Maryland pay for its climate goals? Maybe by penalizing fossil fuel titans.
Maryland has big plans to zero-out its contributions to climate change over the next two decades, an aggressive timeline that state officials expect will require close to $1 billion of investment annually in the years ahead.
But could the state help cover that cost by charging ExxonMobil, Chevron and dozens of fossil fuel giants for their culpability in climate change? That was the recommendation of Maryland’s climate advisory committee Thursday.
This recommendation represents a sizable step forward in the eyes of climate advocates, as Maryland looks for ways to finance its ambitious climate goals. Under landmark legislation adopted in 2022, the state aims to eliminate 60% of its planet-warming carbon emissions by 2031 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Neutralizing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to develop a clean economy won’t come cheap, and Maryland faces a severe budget crunch heading into the upcoming legislative session: State analysts have projected that Maryland will face a shortfall of $2.7 billion for the next budget year, and Gov. Wes Moore will have to close that gap before he introduces his spending plan in January.
That’s why climate advocates argue that forcing polluting companies to pony up cash — instead of making cuts elsewhere or cobbling together the costs by taxing residents — would be such an effective strategy.
So, basically it’s a cash grab, a shakedown. Did any reporter ask the members of the committee if they have switched to EVs themselves? If they have replaced out any natural gas appliances? Have they recommended that all members of the state government stop using fossil fuels? Of course not: cash grab. Sadly, if Maryland tries this the fossil fuels companies will continue selling to the Maryland government.
Coble acknowledged the mechanics of this idea are hard: How does Maryland charge a company in Saudi Arabia for climate change? But she said the vote sends a strong signal heading into next year’s legislative session about the importance of paying for the state’s climate plans.
The citizens voted for the wackjob politicians who put the cultists on the committee: let them pay for it.
Read: Baltimore Paper Recommends Suing Fossil Fuels Companies To Pay For Climate (scam) Goals »
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