The General Assembly finds that: (1) Greenhouse gases are air pollutants that threaten to endanger the public health and welfare of the people of Maryland; (2) Global warming poses a serious threat to the State's future health, well-being, and prosperity; (3) With 3,100 miles of tidally influenced shoreline, Maryland is vulnerable to the threat posed by global warming and susceptible to rising sea levels and flooding, which would have detrimental and costly effects; (4) The State has the ingenuity to reduce the threat of global warming and make greenhouse gas reductions a part of the State's future by achieving a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 2020 and by preparing a plan to meet a longer-term goal of achieving net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 in a manner that promotes new "green" jobs, and protects existing jobs and the State's economic well-being; (5) Studies have shown that energy efficiency programs and technological initiatives consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions can result in a net economic benefit to the State; (6) In addition to achieving the reduction established under this subtitle, it is in the best interest of the State to act early and aggressively to achieve the Maryland Commission on Climate Change's recommended goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10% from 2006 levels by 2012 and by 15% from 2006 levels by 2015; (7) While reductions of harmful greenhouse gas emissions are one part of the solution, the State should focus on developing and utilizing clean energies that provide greater energy efficiency and conservation, such as renewable energy from wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy sources; (8) It is necessary to protect the public health, economic well-being, and natural treasures of the State by reducing harmful air pollutants such as greenhouse gas emissions by using practical solutions that are already at the State's disposal; (9) Cap and trade regulation of greenhouse gas emissions is most effective when implemented on a federal level; (10) Because of the need to remain competitive with manufacturers located in other states or countries and to preserve existing manufacturing jobs in the State, greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing sector are most effectively regulated on a national and international level; and (11) Because of the need to remain competitive with other states, greenhouse gas emissions from certain other commercial and service sectors, including freight carriers and generators of electricity, are most effectively regulated on a national level.
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