New report shows Maryland’s leadership in decade of U.S. renewable energy progress

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Kate Breimann, Environment Maryland State Director

Emma Searson, 100% Renewable Campaign Director

New report shows Maryland’s leadership in decade of U.S. renewable energy progress

Baltimore – Maryland ranks third in the nation for improvements in electricity efficiency since 2010, according to a new report released today by Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center. The project, Renewables on the Rise 2020, documents and compares the growth of five key clean energy technologies in each state over the past decade: solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency and electric vehicles. Maryland also ranks 15th in the country for solar generation as percentage of electricity consumption.

“Americans have been clamoring for clean energy over the past decade, and Marylnad has heard the call,”   said Kate Breimann, State Director with Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center. “The gains we’ve seen, especially in energy efficiency and solar power generation should give Marylanders the confidence we need to aim even higher and continue picking up the pace.” 

Innovative policies that encourage energy efficiency have helped put Maryland in the third place spot. Legislation like Delegate Solomon’s School Clean Energy Act is intended to continue moving the state towards a future powered by clean energy.

“Thank you Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center for this important report and recognition of our state’s commitments,” stated Delegate Jared Solomon (D-18). “I am proud that my legislation, the School Clean Energy Act, will help ensure Maryland continues to lead on efficiency by pushing our school systems towards smarter energy policies.” 

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting renewable energy technologies, the study also shows the rapid gains achieved overall nationally. In 2019, the U.S. produced 30 times more solar power and more than triple the amount of wind energy than it did in 2010. In addition to the growth in renewable energy, utility scale battery storage increased 20-fold since 2010, energy consumption per person declined thanks to improvements in energy efficiency, and more than one million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. 

“This project offers a timely reminder that clean energy technologies have risen to the occasion, and are already delivering for millions of Americans and Marylanders,” Breimann said. “We are so much closer to the clean, renewable energy future we need than we were ten years ago, and we should keep working to ensure that the next decade brings us even further.”