As a resident of Westport, living just steps away from the Baltimore trash incinerator for many years, I am compelled to share my story and advocate for a future free from the burdens of toxic emissions. My name is Mary Randall and I am a Maryland utility customer, a member of the Progressive Maryland EJ Task Force and I am deeply concerned about the environment.

Today, I stand in support of the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act, a crucial step towards redirecting our state's investments away from harmful trash incineration and towards truly clean energy sources. I was shocked to discover that a portion of the money from my utility bills was contributing to the operations of the Baltimore incinerator in my own neighborhood. Every year, $25 million dollars are funneled into this incinerator, an amount that should be invested in energy alternatives that do not compromise our health and the health of our communities.

I have experienced the devastating impact of the incinerator’s emissions firsthand. Previously, I was diagnosed with cancer, a life-altering revelation that left me grappling with the question of how something considered "clean energy" could be linked to such a serious health issue. I am not alone; an entire household on my block has been affected by cancer, raising alarm bells about the potential dangers lurking in the air we breathe. We deserve better, and we can do better.

For 39 years, the BRESCO trash incinerator in Baltimore has cast a long shadow over our communities, releasing thousands of tons of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gasses into the air. These emissions, including CO2, lead, mercury, NOx, and formaldehyde, are not just harmful; they are contributing to a public health crisis. The incinerator is four times dirtier than coal, making it a significant driver of climate change. We should be alarmed.

The consequences of this pollution are evident in the elevated asthma hospitalization rates in Baltimore City, which are three times higher than anywhere else in Maryland. The communities surrounding the incinerator bear the brunt of these negative health impacts, with residents facing $55 million dollars a year in medical expenses, according to a Chesapeake Bay Foundation report. This financial burden falls disproportionately on the shoulders of those living in South Baltimore, amplifying the injustices already present in our community.

Since 2012, Marylanders have unwittingly subsidized over $100 million for trash incinerators, both in-state and out-of-state. This includes the notorious BRESCO incinerator in Baltimore, which continues to burn and pollute our communities. It's time for change.

The 114,000 people living just a few miles from the incinerator are exposed to its pollution daily, leading us to question the sustainability of our current path. We are calling on our city and state elected officials to take action and shut down this harmful facility. If we do not transition away from incineration, the negative health effects and reduced life expectancies in South Baltimore will persist.

The time is now to put an end to the incinerator's harmful emissions and embrace a future where clean energy sources like solar panels take precedence over outdated and damaging technologies. We cannot afford to wait any longer.