As a longtime resident of Cherry Hill, a South Baltimore community shadowed by the towering smokestack of the BRESCO trash incinerator, I’ve spent years breathing in the toxic air that plagues our neighborhoods. My name is Martina Wilson, and I am not a scientist, lobbyist, or policymaker. I am a Maryland utility customer, a member of the Progressive Maryland Environmental Justice Task Force, and a woman fighting for her health and her community’s future. Today, I’m urging our lawmakers to pass the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 and finally remove the subsidies propping up this dangerous incinerator.

For me, this is personal. A few months ago, my doctor delivered a diagnosis I never saw coming: osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens bones, reduces mineral density, and leaves people like me at risk of fractures. I was stunned. I’ve always made sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D. Yet here I am, living with brittle bones that ache every day.

When I asked my doctor how this could happen, she explained something that shook me to my core: lead exposure. Lead is one of the many toxic pollutants released by incinerators like BRESCO, and it has been directly linked to osteoporosis. Lead interferes with the body’s ability to activate vitamin D, which is critical for absorbing calcium and maintaining bone health. For decades, I’ve unknowingly inhaled this poison from the air around my home.

But it doesn’t stop there. The incinerator has taken a wider toll on my body. I’ve struggled with breathing issues, likely worsened by the same toxic emissions. I’ve had a triple bypass surgery on my leg to restore blood flow and now take blood thinners to prevent clots. Even walking has become a daily challenge. While I’ve faced personal health battles, I’ve watched neighbors and friends suffer too—from asthma, heart disease, and other conditions tied to poor air quality. Living near the BRESCO incinerator feels like a sentence, one we never asked for but have no choice but to endure.

What makes it even harder to bear is knowing that our utility bills are subsidizing this pollution. Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) designates waste incineration as “renewable energy,” putting it in the same category as wind and solar. This designation funnels millions of dollars every year into keeping the BRESCO incinerator alive. The Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 will end this charade. It will remove waste incineration from the RPS and redirect those funds to clean, truly renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

This change is long overdue. For too long, corporate interests have prioritized profits over our health, while communities like Cherry Hill shoulder the costs. Passing this legislation is a necessary step toward environmental justice. It will show that Maryland values the lives of people over polluters.

I am just one voice, but I represent thousands of Marylanders whose health has been compromised by this outdated, harmful practice. Lawmakers have the power to right this wrong. By passing the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act, they can ensure a healthier, fairer future for South Baltimore and beyond.

To my fellow residents: we don’t have to accept this. Our voices matter. Let’s demand action. And to our elected officials: it’s time to put people before polluters. Pass the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 and end the subsidies for incineration. Our communities can’t afford to wait any longer.