A Maryland climate advisory group backed down Thursday from urging the state Legislature to start a carbon market that would cut emissions and instead voted to recommend state officials study whether to create a market.
The Maryland Commission on Climate Change, appointed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and the state Legislature, unanimously approved the study recommendation, offered by state Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain amidst opposition from business and labor leaders.
The move illustrates the difficulty states face creating carbon markets that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate money for projects that address climate change. Only California and Washington state have state carbon markets. A handful of Northeastern states are exploring them.
Commission co-chair Kim Coble told POLITICO’s E&E News in an email that she is “disappointed we are not recommending” a carbon market but “pleased there are important steps being taken that will eventually lead us to implementing such a program.”
