Governor inks green legislation

Reconsiders bill on ‘alcopop’ rules

Friday, May 2, 2008

Included was legislation securing a $2 billion settlement with Constellation Energy Group, giving ratepayers of the company’s subsidiary, Baltimore Gas & Electric, a one-time $170 rebate and relieving customers of about $1.5 billion in costs related to the eventual decommissioning of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Calvert County.

O’Malley (D) called the settlement ‘‘the first win consumers have had in a long, long time.”

Missing from the signing ceremony was legislation pertaining to the definition of ‘‘alcopops,” fruit-flavored alcoholic beverages. Both houses of the General Assembly wanted the drinks formally defined as beer instead of distilled spirits. If they’re beer, they carry a lower tax.

The alcopop legislation was originally to be signed on Thursday, but after a meeting with a group of parents, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other advocacy group officials, the governor delayed signing the bill into law.

Opponents of the bill argued that the drinks are aimed at underage youth, and the lower price that comes with the beer distinction keeps the drinks affordable. During the session Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) issued an opinion declaring the drinks are distilled spirits.

There are two more bill signing sessions — May 13 and 22 — at which O’Malley can consider signing the bills, spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said.

O’Malley was joined at last week’s ceremony by Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George’s), House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D).

Several of the energy bills are aimed at preventing electricity shortages, which are predicted to occur in the state as soon as 2011.

Among the bills was legislation establishing solar and geothermal tax credits; the EmPower Maryland Energy Efficiency initiative, which establishes a state goal of 15 percent reduction in per capita electricity consumption and peak demand by the end of 2015; and green building standards for new and renovated state buildings and new school buildings.

Early last week, O’Malley joined 17 other governors in signing a climate change declaration calling for the federal government to follow their lead in acting to curb human activities that contribute to climate change.

For the Chesapeake Bay, O’Malley signed legislation securing $25 million for the bay trust fund. Lawmakers looking to balance the budget cut the governor’s original allocation for the trust fund in half.

The Constellation legislation was almost derailed during the final days of the session when the Senate adopted an amendment aimed at re-regulating the state’s utilities that put the settlement in limbo. The signed settlement also boosts the chances for the possible construction of a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs.

Also included in Thursday’s bill signing was designating the multilayered Smith Island Cake Maryland’s official dessert.