GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY, 2011

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY, BWI charging stations for electric vehicles

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY BY ANNOUNCING INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AT BWI THURGOOD MARSHALL AIRPORT

Governor will also plant trees with children at Upper Marlboro Community Center

BALTIMORE, MD (April 22, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the installation of eight Electric Vehicle Charging Stations as part of Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will bring sixty-five charging stations to the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area by June 2011. Thanks to Maryland’s smart investments in electric vehicle infrastructure the Baltimore region now ranks as a national leader in electric vehicle (EV) readiness, positioning Maryland at the forefront of this emerging industry.

Today’s announcement comes only two weeks after the conclusion of the 2011 session of the Maryland General Assembly, during which Governor O’Malley succeeded in passing three important measures for promoting electric vehicles in Maryland. These bills will provide consumers a $400 tax credit towards installation of electric vehicle charging stations in their homes, require the Public Service Commission to establish pilot study on how best to encourage off-peak charging of electric vehicles, and to establish a statewide electric vehicle planning council. Scheduled to be signed into law in May, these bills build on the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit bill and Electric Vehicle HOV bill, both of which were passed during the 2010 Legislative Session.

“While other states are sitting idly by, Maryland continues to harness the innovation that will move us into the new economy,” said Governor O’Malley. “Thanks to our federal partners, we are making vital investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, positioning Maryland as a national leader in this emerging industry and are moving closer to our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020.”

Last June, the Maryland Energy Administration announced a $500,000 investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, in order to promote a cleaner, more efficient transportation system in Maryland. That investment fueled the construction of sixty-five charging stations throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, providing the necessary infrastructure to allow electric vehicle owners to travel throughout the region with confidence. Of those sixty-five charging stations, fifty-five are being developed by the Baltimore Electric Vehicle Initiative in partnership with two Maryland-based companies: SemaConnect and Autoflex. The remaining ten stations will be developed by the City of Baltimore and located in various parking garages throughout the city.

"Hybrids cut down on fuel costs and pollution," said Senator Mikulski. "The world is facing a climate crisis, and people are nervous about rising energy costs. The American public needs relief - real solutions to what we are going to do to become energy independent. Maryland's innovation economy will keep America rolling, and it is fueled by technology and brain power, not foreign oil. A stronger America begins at home."

"America must end its dependence on foreign oil in order to retain our competitive advantage and ensure a promising future for our citizens," said Congressman John Sarbanes. "Governor O'Malley's leadership is moving us in that direction and setting the stage for development of alternative forms of energy in our own backyard."

Just a week ago, the Ford Motor Company included the Baltimore region as one of the Top 25 EV Ready Cities in America, cementing Maryland’s position as a national leader for establishing best practices for EV preparedness. Just days later, California-based Coulomb Technologies announced that it planned to build 50-100 new EV charging stations as part of it’s $37 million expansion of its ChargePoint America program. This substantial investment in electric vehicles infrastructure is the result of the Administration’s efforts to move Maryland forward into the new innovation economy by promoting clean, renewable energy.

“Maryland has emerged as a national leader in advancing electric transportation, which promotes energy independence, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and saves consumers’ money,” remarked Maryland Energy Administration Director Malcolm Woolf.  “While gas prices in Maryland soar towards $4.00 per gallon, charging an electric vehicle costs the equivalent of about a dollar per gallon. For Maryland families, that means real savings each and every month.”

In addition to installing electric vehicle charging stations, MEA is helping BWI invest in cost-saving energy upgrades at its Hourly and Daily garages that will collectively save the airport 3,288 MWh annually, or enough energy to fuel approximately 8.9 million miles of electric vehicle driving. The energy savings comes as a result of two programs from MEA: $500,000 from the Project Sunburst program, which will facilitate the installation of a 503 kW solar array, and a $1 million loan from the State Agency Loan Program, which is being used in a project to replace the Hourly and Daily garages’ existing high pressure sodium lighting fixtures with new high efficiency T8 fluorescent fixtures featuring energy saving electronic ballasts.

For more information, visit the Maryland Energy Administration.

Later today, Governor O’Malley and 20 students from the Rivers Adventure Camp at Upper Marlboro Community Center will plant tress in celebration of Earth Day and remind Marylanders to participate in the Marylanders Plant Trees Program, launched two years ago with a goal of planting 50,000 new trees by 2010. Marylanders took action, planting and registering 50,089 new trees as of December 2010. The State is also on track to exceed its goal of planting 1 million trees on public lands by 2011 by the Forest Brigade, which utilizes inmate labor in a partnership among the Department of Public Safety and Correctional services, the State Highway Administration and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Marylanders Plant Trees program continues to offer $25 coupons toward the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more, redeemable at nearly 70 participating nurseries across the State. DNR encourages citizens to “plant and be counted” by registering every tree they plant. Participants will be eligible for prizes, while observing the environmental benefits of their tree through interactive maps and charts. For more information, a list of prizes, and to register a tree, visit trees.maryland.gov.