State Legislation Marks Major Step Toward Environmental Justice in Baltimore and Beyond

Annapolis, MD—After years of grassroots organizing and community-led advocacy, Progressive Maryland members are celebrating a significant milestone for environmental justice and clean energy advocacy with the Maryland General Assembly's decision to end subsidies for trash incineration. Trash incineration will be officially removed from Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for cleaner air and healthier communities across the state. This means that ratepayer money will no longer be used to subsidize trash burning, which has long polluted the air in majority-Black neighborhoods.

“South Baltimore has been in this fight for a long time, and we are just relieved to see the removal of subsidies for trash incineration,” said Jennifer Mendes Dwyer, Deputy Executive Director of Progressive Maryland. “This is undeniably a victory for public health and ending environmental racism in our state.”

This achievement is a result of our persistent advocacy in which we began ramping up our environmental justice campaign in 2022 with the formation of a community-based task force in Southwest Baltimore focused on ending government support for incineration. Our Environmental Justice Task Force leaders have spent years knocking doors, educating neighbors, organizing town halls, building coalitions and submitting legislative testimony. We’ve been organizing with and for the communities who’ve suffered the worst impacts of toxic air pollution and decades of environmental racism and neglect. 

Through door-knocking, we learned that many of the families in the surrounding neighborhoods didn’t even know their gas and electric bills were funding the same facility making them sick. We made it our mission to change that. Eliminating subsidies for this harmful practice aligns Maryland’s energy policies with real public health priorities. Facilities emit toxic chemicals and particulate matter that contribute to respiratory illnesses like asthma at alarming rates. According to public health data, people living near incinerators suffer from asthma rates significantly higher than state and national averages. 

“This victory is proof that our voices can’t be ignored,” said Jeff Barnes, Member of Progressive Maryland. “For decades, families like mine near the Baltimore incinerator have endured polluted air and devastating health impacts. Getting rid of subsidies for these facilities moves us closer to not paying for pollution and also hopefully breathing some cleaner air.”

This achievement is one step toward a just and equitable energy future. Progressive Maryland remains committed to fighting for truly clean, sustainable energy solutions and addressing the root causes of environmental racism. While this win is worth celebrating, the work isn’t over yet. So, with that, we will continue to fight for justice with our members. 

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