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Conservation groups urge Appropriations Committee to protect strategic‑energy and transfer‑tax funds
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Summary
Conservation and land‑trust groups told the Appropriations Committee that using the Strategic Energy Investment Fund or diverting transfer‑tax revenues weakens long‑term programs for renewable energy, land conservation and open‑space projects and urged restoration of full cash funding where bonds were used as temporary backfill.
A coalition of conservation organizations asked the Appropriations Committee to preserve funding in the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF) and to protect real‑estate transfer‑tax programs that support land conservation and program open space.
Kristen Harbison of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and Matt Stegman of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation told the committee that SEIF and transfer‑tax revenues are intended for specific climate and conservation purposes and warned that using those funds for general budget backfill undermines long‑term program integrity. "The funds do not come from taxpayers for general fund use. They are, in essence, loans from ratepayers entrusted to you for the specific purpose of advancing renewable energy and addressing climate change," Harbison said.
Partners for Open Space asked the committee to return to full cash funding under the transfer‑tax formula as soon as possible and warned that continued diversions weaken program predictability and conservation outcomes. Witnesses urged the committee to hold the line on environmental and open‑space funding despite the larger fiscal shortfall.
Committee members thanked the witnesses; no committee action was recorded on these items during the hearing.
