Maryland Air Advisory Council Advance Clean Heat Reporting Rules to Measure Pollution from Buildings
At hearing before Air Quality Control Advisory Council, advocates call out reporting rules as critical first steps to quantify pollution from buildings, urge regulators to introduce healthy air standards to cut pollution and lower energy bills by accelerating the adoption of heat pumps
BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Air Quality Control Advisory Council today advanced a draft reporting rule from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), a critical first step to understanding the level of pollution from Maryland’s homes and businesses. A coalition of nine public health, housing and climate organizations delivered a sign on letter in support of the Heating Fuel Provider Reporting Program, which was developed in response to Governor Wes Moore’s executive order to develop a series of Clean Heat Rules to clean up Baltimore’s air pollution and stabilize energy bills by gradually phasing in highly efficient electric equipment, such as heat pumps.
At the hearing, advocates testified in support of MDE’s reporting metrics as a necessary first step towards a rule that phases in cleaner, safer sources of heat over time and urged the agency to go further to address pollution from fossil fuel heating equipment by introducing healthy air standards for HVACs and water heaters. With EmPOWER reforms unlocking new rebates and more than half of Maryland households projected to adopt heat pumps by 2030, advocates are calling on MDE to act now and ensure that the Clean Heat Rules center health equity, affordability and long-term climate progress.
According to MDE, households using heat pumps can save up to $1,400 per year compared to those using less efficient systems. An RMI analysis further shows that switching to heat pumps for space and water heating can cut a home’s emissions by 62% over the equipment’s lifetime.
In reaction to today’s hearing, a coalition of advocates released the following statements:
“Our homes are our refuge, and the opportunity to have a safe, affordable and healthy home should be available to every Marylander,” said Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “We’re proud to see the Moore administration continue to advance policies that can help clean up pollution from our homes. It’s a critical first step toward transparency and accountability and we look forward to stronger action, including a draft zero-emissions heating equipment standard this year, to deliver healthier, more affordable homes for all.”
“We see the impact of breathing in unhealthy indoor air all around us, children with asthma, families missing work and school, health issues that never seem to let up,” said Andrea Orozco, faithful advocacy lead at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “It’s not just indoor pollution – the Baltimore region has struggled with harmful smog in violation of federal air quality standards. We support these reporting rules as an important first step to uncover and address the pollution coming from our homes. Zero-emissions heating equipment standards must follow to truly protect Marylanders where they live.”
“This reporting rule helps lay the foundation for delivering clean, affordable heat to our communities,” said Josh Tulkin, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director. “By working to accelerate the adoption of efficient electric heat pumps, Maryland can take a major step toward climate resilience in our homes and businesses while helping residents stabilize energy bills.”
“If Maryland is serious about its climate commitments, it has to deal with pollution from buildings head-on,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “We’re not talking about far-off technology, heat pumps are already fast becoming the most popular heating system in the state because of their superior efficiency and ability to keep residents comfortable year-round. These Clean Heat Rules will take advantage of this momentum and ensure that Maryland has mechanisms in place to enable all residents to gradually upgrade to healthier, more efficient electric equipment.”
“Heat pumps are gaining popularity with Marylanders because they recognize the improved comfort and efficiency this state-of-the-art technology provides,” said Tony Sirna, Deputy Policy Director for Evergreen Action. “This reporting rule gives Maryland the insight it needs to scale solutions effectively and is also critical in cutting the significant climate pollution that comes from our buildings. We support MDE in moving these standards forward this year to kickstart a transition that will grow local businesses, help meet our climate goals and ensure every Maryland household has access to safe, modern heating and cooling.”
“We already have all the tools in front of us and the transition to heat pumps in Maryland is happening,” said Brian Jenkins, Mid-Atlantic Senior Regional Manager for the Building Decarbonization Coalition. “The reporting rule will help quantify where building emissions are coming from and guide smart investment in clean heat. Following this first step, a zero emission heating equipment standard would give contractors, manufacturers and households the market clarity they need, as well as send a signal that Maryland is serious about clean air and climate leadership.”
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